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Cameron Spencer / Getty Images, file
"A lot of sheep get poached, especially during lambing season," Wellington police spokesman Guy Callahan said. "But something like this is not regular."
Four men, 10 sheep and one very small car. It’s not the start of a joke. It’s what police in New Zealand found Wednesday when a routine patrol turned decidedly woolly.
An officer was driving along about 1 a.m. local time Wednesday in Havelock North when he noticed something odd about a 1994 Ford Laser hatchback as it labored along under the power of its 1.3-liter engine, Wellington police spokesman Guy Callahan said.
“He would have done a double take and said, ‘What the hell?’” Callahan said. “The officer basically pulled the vehicle over and discovered it was full up with men and sheep. … It’s quite a small vehicle.”
The 10 hog-tied sheep had allegedly just been stolen from a farm. Three of the men were charged with theft of stock and cruel treatment of an animal.
The men, all locals, weren’t teenagers pulling a prank. Their ages were 35, 22 and 21, Callahan said, adding that stolen sheep are generally slaughtered and eaten.
He noted that the meat is expensive, even in New Zealand, which is known for its lamb production.
“A lot of sheep get poached, especially during lambing season,” he said. “But something like this is not regular.”
The sheep found in the car were returned unharmed, though presumably shaken, Callahan said, adding that he thought the cruelty charge was particularly appropriate, given the hog-tying and the weather.
“It’s bloody hot here because it’s in the middle of summer,” he said. “So 10 wool sheep and four men -- it’s, well … it’s hot.”
Local media reported that 11 sheep were stolen, which would make the logistics and the car ride even harder to fathom. But Callahan said he was confident the number was 10.
“Maybe one of the men was mistaken for a sheep,” he said.
This story was originally published on Wed Feb 20, 2013 7:50 AM EST
Leave a Comment:
I will refrain from sheep jokes.
Not to mention that the taste of mutton sucks.
Such a BAAAAAAAAAAAD situation!
Annie, you just haven't had it fixed right. Lamb is awesome!
Stupid criminals are everywhere. I guess this is the equivalent of robbing a doughnut shop.
so many jokes, so little time
Date night in New Zealand?
itgranny -- lamb is different from sheep. Adult sheep is 'mutton'. Have you not ever heard the expression,
"Mutton dressed as lamb" ?
maybe it was one the guys stag party
Sounds like an orgy! LMAO!!
sheep pedophilia? Pop was stationed in Australia during WWII. We NEVER had sheep steak - he said he had had enough to last his lifetime. I always thought it didn't taste too BAAAAd myself...
Dirty deeds!!! Done with sheep!!! {To AC/DC}
In Georgia it is the start of a harem.
...and apparently, according to another article on this event, two of those sheep were particularly attractive. :)
New Zealand... where men are men, and sheep are nervous.
A+ to the writer John Newland, great headline, LOL...........
In western S.D. this is called a bachelor party.
Hummmmmmmmmmmm ....
"Wool you marry me afterwards?" ... "Wool you respect me in the morning?"
Like Lori said "so many jokes, so little time" - but I'll try:)
1) That's 2.5 sheep EACH!!
2) Is that the stick shift or are you just happy to see me........
3) But all they want to do is "cuddle"........
4) Why do I always get stuck with the UGLY one!!
5) So who is the designated driver?
6) Driver's license and registration please...............
7) If I hear another peep out of you!!
Okay, I'll stop there:)
One time myself and a couple crew mates were coming home from a job, and saw a sheep with his head caught in a fence. My buddy slammed on the breaks, ran over and screwed the sheep. Walked back, got in and the other guy says "Mind if I try it"? So he runs over and damned if he didn't stick HIS head in the fence. Thank you the tip jar is at the end of the bar, don't forget the waitress and bartender.
gm stonepipe
How insensitive of you to make jokes. The sheep were tied up. It's obvious that they were being held against their will and probably on their way to a life of forced prostitution.
Ummm.....I got paid yesterday......Mmmmm.....not that has anything to do with the story of course, I was just thinking out loud.....
So how many dudes and sheeps can you fit in a station wagon? Well that answers the old age question.
If a sheep took a crap in the forest, would you here the baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.............ok that's enough.
If they couldn't find a motel, they could have at least used a pickup!
At least now we know where 4 of the RepubliCon PartyOverCountry Congressmen went on their 10 day vacation in the middle of a "working session!"!
Do you know why shepherds wear kilts? The sheep would hear a zipper.
Did the cops run a rape kit on the sheep?
"Dear Penthouse......"
zapper45701
Do you know why shepherds wear kilts? The sheep would hear a zipper.
You know why shepherds walk the sheep to the edge of a cliff? The sheep push backwards.
@ Annie-322924
lamb is different from sheep. Adult sheep is 'mutton'. Have you not ever heard the expression,
"Mutton dressed as lamb" ?
Mutton is goat meat. Not sheep meat.
@logical-
Wrong. It's mature sheep.
That headline was just made for funny comments. Well done everyone.
I now have AC/DC stuck in my head, but it was worth it.
@1.20 - with HIS head stuck in the fence? kinky...
Sure this wasn't Texas?
did they find any mint jelly in the car ? If not they can't prove intent.
More forepaw!! More forepaw!!!!
In a related story, all velcro shoes have been sold out in New Zealand.
It was just the local Al Qaida cell rounding up virgins for their next suicide bomber. Put them in a Burqa, and who can tell the difference!
Honest officer! I was just helping that sheep over the fence.
It's New Zealand, so joking should be OK. The animals were probably not religious sheep where cruelties cannot be criticized.
its the sneak peek to hangover 3 "innocence of lambs"
These 4 clowns just wanted new girl friends.
Yeah. One of her names is EWE-nice.
Isle of Ewe?
Found KY jelly and mint jelly in the glovebox....
So is that what's having the milk but the not buying the sheep?
I've heard of eating your date but THIS is ridiculous...
Singing, "I only have eyes for ewe".
The story had potential... if only the men had been hog-tied. What happens in New Zealand, stays in New Zealand.
Those sheep were destined to be sex slaves. OOOOOHHHHH.
You mean "Ewe!!!"
Hey, don't knock sheep. Where do you think the expression "I love ewe" comes from?
Nothing like sex before dinner.
Nothing like sex with dinner.
idiots....throw the book at them
sheep rustlers - you DO understand that there are more SHEEP than PEOPLE in NZ? (truth, by the way)
So many comments that could be posted!, So many levels of humor. The temptation is almost unbearable! ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.
I'll just post one, Ref movie; Dr. Strangelove.
Actor Slim Pickens as B-52 pilot Major T.J. "King" Kong states "A fella could have a pretty good weekend in Dallas with all this" as he reads off the contents list of crew bail out kit. The city of Dallas was changed to Las Vegas due to assassination of Pres. Kennedy shortly before opening release of movie, but for this story the original script line using the city of Dallas fits perfect.
@ Casey... thanks for that info.... I love that movie... have it on DVD...
When the film reels were transported from Canada to the US, the reels were confiscated at first thinking it was a porn movie by the way the title read on the reel cans.
My favorite movie of all time. I believe this was a Stanley Kubrick film. Peter Sellers was genius in this.
Mine Fuer, I can walk!
Steal my woolies,huh ! WeLLLL, now you get yurrre ankles roped up and a couple miles dragged thru the fields on the back of my truck oughta cure you !
Shackled....? Was Bob Melendez vacationing in New Zealand lately?
the comments are great..reminds me of what happened at the york fair...guy assaulted a sheep in the pen but dropped his wallet in the throws of passion...easy to find and great press coverage
How many of them were naked?
I don't remember hearing that the sheep had been sheared :)
Were these guys from Greece?
more like Iran...
I heard they were teabaggers and neocons. As they were led off to gaol they were singing, "I'll never find another ewe". ASHLEY JUDD (DEM-KY) 2014!
Where men are men and the sheep are NERVOUS
What's wrong...... is this illegal?
sheep rustling?
With apologies to the Rolling Stones: Hey ewe get off of my clown!
No, no, no!! It's "Hey, McLeod, get off of my ewe!"
Great humor!!
I guess those guys had what might be considered special needs.
I wonder if Karl Rove was one of the men involved? Typical GOP move, stealing sheep because no real woman would want to date one of them, let alone go to bed with one. Yuck!
In North Carolina this would be called an orgy!
We have come to rustle your women and rape your sheep. Reminds me of the old joke about a young sheepherder who asks some of the older sheepherders what to do about the lack of female companionship. One of the older sheepherders tells him when they're feeling amorous they just grab a sheep. So the young sheepherder grabs one of the sheep and has his way with it and returns to the campfire to see the older sheepherders laughing, he asks "What's so funny?" One of the older sheepherders replies "You picked an ugly one!" All kidding aside mutton can be anywhere from barely edible to pretty good with proper preperation and some mint jelly. Now lamb chops, oooohhh, to die for!
"10 sheep, four men found in hatchback in New Zealand"
Sounds like a pretty typical Saturday night in New Zealand.
The accused have escaped. They are now on the lamb....
Oh Groan !!!!!!!!
Best, Tom.
They WERE on the lamb....and they had to use a fire hose to get them off.
saw two old VW beetles where the bumpers had locked together and a couple of guys were trying to get them unlocked. There was this shout "THROW COLD WATER ON 'EM - IT WORKS FOR DOGS!"
"Silence of the lambs"? great movie, by the way.