Police in Birmingham with a sense of humor have caused a sensation on social media with a report about sheep rustling.

Officers rounded up a small flock of lambs after a car chase in the city, and are trying to find out where the lambs were stolen from.

In official photographs issued by West Midlands Police the faces of the woolly witnesses were blurred "to protect their identities."

Police-issued photos are often pixilated or blurred if there is a need to hide vital information.

There were mixed feelings on social media about the faces of the victims being hidden.

In their official statement, West Midlands Police said the identity of the stolen lambs was "protected due to their age and vulnerability."

The police later admitted that masking the faces of the young sheep in official photos had been a joke.

The story started after the "woolly passengers" were spotted herded into the back of a car and by suspected rustlers. After police chased the vehicle three men in their 20s fled, but were captured and taken in for questioning. The lambs were recovered from the vehicle.

Although it was a live incident, in their official log of the incident, the police couldn't resist using "sheep" references.

Their statement read: "Officers spotted three woolly backseat passengers being driven... in the early hours of this morning."

The vehicle tried making off but moments later rammed into a parked car in Rosedale Road where three men leaped from the car and fled, the statement added.

West Midlands Police units who arrived at the scene found the suspects.

Police in Birmingham said Wednesday that three men had been released on bail until June 16 pending further enquiries.

Meanwhile, while try to find the owner of the lambs, the lambs were Wednesday moved to an animal sanctuary in the West Midlands while the search continues for their owner. Police said none of the lambs were hurt during their ordeal.

(Xinhua)