Eighteen heifers have been stolen from Coxwood Farm, in Rossett, near Wrexham, in the middle of the night between November 1 and 2, say the police.

The animals were all aged between eight and 13 months and consisted of Holstein Friesian, Longhorn, Limousin, Charolais and British Blue breeds. North Wales Police is appealing for anyone with information about the theft to come forward.

According to NFU Mutual, livestock worth £2.4m were stolen from UK farms in the first three months of 2022.

PC Chris James, of the North Wales rural crime team, urged farms in the region to review security and report anything suspicious. "Anyone with any information or who has witnessed suspicious vehicles or activity in the area over the past few days are asked to contact North Wales police quoting crime reference," he said.

Read more: Rural crime is back with a vengeance

There had been several thefts in the area during the last two months which have mainly taken place on farms and company yards, largely targeting agricultural vehicles and tools.

PC Jamie Aston, of the Western Priority Crime Team, said there had been an increase in high value thefts from rural locations, such as farms. “Following correspondence with the NFU this week, we are listening to the communities’ concerns and have increased patrols in rural areas," he said.

“I would urge anyone with a quad bike, trailer, Land Rover and other high value tools to take all reasonable steps to safeguard their possessions.

“Simply ensuring to check that high value items are locked away in secure locations overnight and keeping vehicle keys separate from the vehicle can be enough to prevent theft from taking place.”