A Canberra play centre is appealing to the public for help tracking down a number of farm animals stolen from Weston Park.
Known for its miniature train and mini golf, the Yarralumla Play Station is a popular daytime attraction in Canberra's south.
But the children's farm area at the Play Station was the target of a night-time raid last Thursday, August 27, when a number of people allegedly climbed the fence and stole 10 animals.
ACT Policing said that about 8:30pm, "fencing around the property was cut and animals stolen from their pens".
They confirmed two black and pink spotted piglets, two pink piglets, three light brown and white turkeys, two frizzle chickens and a Polish rooster were stolen.
Yarralumla Play Station's management said that, despite having "18 high definition cameras" installed around the premises for security, the thieves managed to escape undetected.
"They clearly had cased the place beforehand and knew where they were," they said.
Play Station management said they were most concerned for the piglets, as they are only one week old and, without their mother around, would need bottle feeding to survive.
"[We] also hatched the chickens from eggs … and raised them before bringing them into the farm, so all our animals are more than just farm animals to us and we would dearly love to have them all back," they said.
ACT Policing has been in contact with Domestic Animal Services to help locate the animals, and have asked for any witnesses to come forward.
"This is a very sad incident," Detective Inspector Adrian Craft said.
"We are concerned for the welfare of these animals, and we of course would like the animals returned for all the children who visit the Play Station."
He said investigations into the theft of the animals were ongoing.
