Raiders steal chickens and coop

Jane Galston has been left with just one egg. Picture by Helen Barrington.

Police are investigating the "unusual theft" of three chickens and their coop from a remote cottage in the Borders.

About £600 of equipment was taken in the incident near West Linton as well as birds Harriet, Hannah and Hettie.

Owner Jane Galston said the chickens were "great pets" and described their theft as "bizarre and distressing".

A spokeswoman for Lothian and Borders Police appealed for anyone with information about the theft to contact them.

Ms Galston said she had been shocked by the theft shortly after the new coop had been erected.

All I have left is one massive egg that I kept because of its size - it just shows people will steal anything these days Jane Galston

"I really couldn't believe it when I saw everything had gone like that," she said.

"I had ordered the coop, feeder and electric fencing kit on the internet and whoever has done this more than likely spotted me putting it up.

"This is a pretty remote spot so it is hardly opportunistic thieves."

Ms Galston said she was not concerned about losing the equipment but wished the raiders had left her chickens.

'Great pets'

"The reason I got the electric fencing was to keep foxes and weasels out - it never entered my head that weasels of a different kind would take them," she said.

"They were terribly tame birds, not scared of humans at all and made great pets.

"All I have left is one massive egg that I kept because of its size - it just shows people will steal anything these days."

A police spokeswoman appealed for public help with their investigation into the "most unusual theft".

She also urged people with allotments or smallholdings to take steps to ensure they were secure when left unattended.