Cops who arrested a father and son arrived too late to rescue the pedigree horses they had stolen from equestrian clubs, as they had already been turned into sausages.

The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs announced that the two racehorse rustlers, who were not named, had been detained during a raid in the Russian capital, Moscow.

According to the statement, which was released on 7th December, the father has a criminal record for several undisclosed crimes.

The two men are accused of a series of thefts of horses from equestrian clubs in the Moscow region.

It was previously reported that the two men had entered the grounds of an equestrian club in the village of Andreyevka and stolen five horses from the paddock in October.

According to the employee who reported the theft, the horses were intended for racing purposes. As such, the damages incurred were estimated at over RUB 4 million (GBP 41,200).

A similar crime was committed in the village of Povarovo a month later, when two horses and two foals were stolen from their paddock overnight.

The police ascertained the identities and whereabouts of the suspects, who reportedly work in the animal slaughter industry.

A raid was carried out on the suspects’ home with military support from the National Guard.

The remains of stolen animals, homemade sausages, and a pickup truck with a special trailer for transporting horses were found.

A criminal case was opened against the suspects for theft.

One of the men was taken into custody and the other remains under house arrest as the investigation continues.