Wanted: Little Horse Thief

BBC NEWS
Police hunt miniature pony thief
Police in Clackmannanshire have launched a hunt for a stolen miniature Shetland pony.

The animal, known as Dulcie and which stands just 28 inches tall, was taken from a field at Shavelhaugh Loan, between Alva and Fishcross.

Central Scotland Police said the pony's size was such that someone could simply have reached into the field and carried her off.

The animal disappeared sometime between 1400 BST and 1800 BST on 23 October.

'Unusual theft'

The six-month-old pony, which is worth between £800 and £1,000, is described as having long white hair and a slightly orange coloured muzzle with a faint white flash in the centre of the forehead above the eyes.

A police spokesman said: "We are following several potential lines of inquiry. The owner left the pony and other horses in the field at 2pm and when he returned to make a final check four hours later, this particular pony had disappeared.

"There were no obvious signs of entry being made to the field such as open gates or fences being tampered with.

"The pony is of such a size that the person who took her may simply have lifted her over the fence.

"This is clearly an unusual theft and we would appeal to anyone who is aware of the pony's whereabouts to contact us."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Central Scotland Police.