Man and teen arrested after baby donkey Moon stolen from farm
Two men have been arrested in connection to the theft of a tiny baby donkey from a Hampshire farm.
Moon, a twelve-week-old foal known for being ‘gentle’ and ‘fun-loving’, was snatched away from her mother on May 15 in broad daylight.
It left mum Astra ‘distressed’ as Moon hadn’t even been weaned off her mum’s milk, her owners from Miller’s Ark in the village of Hook said.
Moon’s disappearance ignited a sprawling search for the baby donkey, with police saying they received countless tips and leads from worried people.
But Moon was finally reunited with mum Astra on Wednesday night after she was found 60 miles away from her home in Buckinghamshire.
Hampshire police said officers have now arrested a 17-year-old man and a 38-year-old man from High Wycombe, in connection to Moon’s kidnapping.
‘Officers from our Countrywatch team, assisted by the Thames Valley Police Rural Crime Taskforce, made two arrests yesterday evening,’ the force said today.
‘Suspected stolen plant machinery was also recovered from the scene on Whitehouse Lane in High Wycombe.
‘Both have been released under investigation while further inquiries continue.’
Miller’s Ark owner Elizabeth Miller said Moon’s theft touched off a wave of sadness and support, which she found ‘really overwhelming’.
Moon was found at an address on White House Lane in High Wycombe at around 8:15pm, police said.
Officers received a lead from Miller’s Ark about Moon’s whereabouts, which later shared a touching video of Moon and the farm’s owner embracing.
‘Moon appears to be in good health, thank heaven, and we will make sure that Moon and her mum Astra get lots of love and care as they re-discover each other,’ Miller’s Ark wrote on Facebook.
‘It is because of all of you, amazing people, who have supported Moon, Astra and the team at Miller’s Ark, sharing this story far and wide.
‘And now you have brought her home.’
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