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6 men caught on camera stealing goat from Central Valley High School farm

The goat, Bella, is valued at $500, but school officials say the emotional loss far exceeds the monetary value.

CERES, Calif. — UPDATE: 

Bella the goat has been returned! Ceres Police reached out to ABC10 to say the Bella is safely back on her farm after being returned overnight. No other details are known at this time. 

ORIGINAL: 

Ceres Police are looking to identify six people caught on camera stealing a 10-month-old breeding goat from the Central Valley High School farm Sunday night.

According to officials with the Ceres Unified School District, the goat, Bella, was taken around 11:30 p.m. Surveillance cameras captured six men breaking into the farm and taking the goat.

“Students in my veterinary science class were in tears this morning when I told them she was stolen,” said teacher Jessica Cardoso.  “I have quite literally cried all day today not knowing if she is safe, hurt, scared, or even alive.”

Credit: Ceres Unified School District

The goat is valued at $500, but school officials say the emotional loss far exceeds the monetary value. According to the school, Bella was bought with money earned in the student internship program at the farm. Students spend two hours a day caring for her and other animals on the farm as a class elective.

Students from Pre-K to 3rd grade recently visited Bella at the Harvest Festival, and high school students in the class were planning to pet her in the Stanislaus County Fair next summer.

“She provided a way for students who might not otherwise have the opportunity to show at the fair,” Cardoso said. “She was also going to help show students the whole cycle of life by giving birth to babies this next fall.  We are devastated and just want her back.”

If you have any information about Bella’s whereabouts, you are asked to call Ceres Police at 209-538-5712.

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