200 Pheasants Stolen In Southampton

14 October 2011, 13:17 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

Officers are appealing for information after 200 pheasants were stolen from a farm near Southampton.

The birds were taken from the sites in Burnetts Lane, West End.

Between 10pm on Sunday, October 9 and 6am Thursday, October 13, offenders entered the farm land on two separate occasions, taking 100 pheasants each time.

Inspector George White said, “We are looking to speak to anyone with any information in relation to this incident – did you see or hear anything or do you know where the pheasants may have been taken to?

“In addition we’d like to issue a warning. The birds had been given a worming medicine and we believe they may now be sold on and consumed earlier than intended by the farmer.

“The medicine is called Panacur and advice from the Food Standards Agency is that consuming these pheasants on a one-off basis isn’t expected to be harmful.

“We do not want to discourage people from purchasing pheasants for consumption from legitimate sellers in the area, however we would like anyone who can help identify the offenders or the location of the stolen birds to contact
us immediately.”

Anyone with any information should contact police at Hedge End police station on 0800 555 111.