Pa. farmer recognizes his stolen cows at auction

WEST WAYNESBURG, Pa. -- Police say a farmer working at a southwestern Pennsylvania livestock auction recognized his own stolen cows, leading to the arrest of a suspect.

The Washington Observer-Reporter said Thursday that the farmer realized they were his three animals based on the patterns of their hides and then called police.

The paper says state police charged 33-year-old Henry Vester Stiles III of Clarksville with receiving stolen property.

Police say George Donahoo alerted them after Stiles allegedly dropped off the cows for auction on June 18. The charge was filed against Stiles on Wednesday. Online sources didn't list a phone number for him.

Authorities say Donahoo identified Stiles based on a driver's license photo.

The cows are worth $2,400. They were stolen in February.

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Information from: Observer-Reporter