Multiple people broke into a rural Tuggeranong property and "deliberately injured" several sheep, resulting in the death of one animal and the euthanasia of another, police say.
Officers were called to the property, located behind the pine forest adjacent to the Monaro Highway, on Thursday, September 17, after the owner arrived and found multiple injured sheep in a holding pen.
Police believe multiple people attended the property on Wednesday evening and, with the assistance of dogs, rounded up eight sheep before moving them into the holding pen.
"In the holding pen, multiple sheep were deliberately injured, resulting in the death of one sheep and the euthanasia of another due to the severity of its injuries," ACT Policing said in a statement.
Police said the property's house was also broken into and ransacked, causing extensive disruption inside.
Officers are seeking witnesses and anyone who may have information about the alleged burglary and animal cruelty.
They want to hear from anyone who saw anything unusual on Wednesday evening on the eastern side of the Monaro Highway between the paintball facility and the Johnson Drive roundabout.
Officers are also seeking information on any vehicles traveling near Old Tuggeranong Road, particularly a late-1990s or early-2000s grey Mazda hatchback or sedan seen in the area on Wednesday evening.
Anyone with information, including dashcam footage, is urged to contact Crime Stoppers ACT via its website, quoting reference number 8501989.
