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Sheep on farm - Source: Thinkstock -
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Police in Hawke's Bay made a bizarre discovery after pulling over a vehicle early this morning to find 14 sheep and four people crammed inside.
A patrol tried to stop a Mazda saloon in Flaxmere around 3am and chased it, until it came to a stop in a local park.
Police say a group of people ran off. They found the sheep crammed into the boot and interior of the car, including some crammed into the wheel well and feet wells of the back seat.
The animals had been stolen from local farms and were bound with ropes and very distressed. Two have died as a result of the incident.
Detective Sergeant Mark Moorhouse of the Hastings Police says they had obviously tried to squeeze as many animals as possible into the car.
Police say the treatment of the sheep was disgusting and an unnecessary act of cruelty.
They have arrested three of the men in the car and say they are looking for one other person.
"We've executed a number of search warrants today and been to three addresses where we have found evidence that stock was being slaughtered in the garages," says Moorhouse.
Animal welfare officers say ear-marks suggest the sheep were stolen from three properties and any farmer wanting to claim them should contact the council.
At up to $100 a head, the council says sheep rustling is a serious problem in the area with hundreds of sheep taken this year.
