Hadleigh Farm Estate said the piglets had been crushed by their mother after a break-in (generic)
Piglets have died after being crushed by their mother following a break-in at a farm in Essex.
Hadleigh Farm Estate, operated by the Salvation Army, said two barns in its Rare Breeds Centre - which house bagot goats, golden Guernsey goats, Leicester longwool sheep, middle white pigs and greyface Dartmoor sheep - had been broken into on December 4.
Ciaran Egan, director of the estate, said a sow in one of the barns had been ‘startled' by the intruders and she ‘unfortunately' crushed several piglets in the process.
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Essex Police said the suspects had also rammed a gate to enter the premises before driving off towards Castle Lane.
The thieves returned 13 days later on December 17 and stole two wood chippers, worth up to £40,000, according to Mr Egan, during a 'saddening' incident.
"The piglets had been sleeping in a barn when the intruders broke-in on one occasion," Mr Egan said.
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"The stress of the break-in led to their mother crushing some of them, a distressing situation for the animals and our team at Hadleigh.
"We have since repaired several fences, gates and doors and have had to upgrade our site security installing lighting and CCTV."
A spokesperson for Essex Police have appealed for witnesses to come forward to help their investigation.
