A village rumour that a man had just bought a cow led a farmer in Kratie on Wednesday to track down his treasured bovine, stolen three days earlier.

According to police, the farmer had let his cow graze behind his house and came back later to find it gone.

Sleepless nights followed until a story began circulating that a fellow villager had a new four-legged friend. Putting on his sleuth’s hat, the farmer paid a visit and found his cow.

Police investigation found the cow had been bought for $500 from a 24-year-old cattle rustler. KAMPUCHEA THMEY