A man who was held hostage by farmers for stealing sheep has been rescued by police, reports Guangzhou Daily.

Rao was passing a village in Wuhua on July 23 when he spied two unguarded sheep in a field. But he was caught trying to take the sheep by their owner and fellow villagers, police said. Convinced that Rao must have been responsible for previous thefts in the village, the angry farmers decided to make him pay for their losses.

After beating him, three farmers, including the owner of the sheep, held Rao hostage on a nearby mountain. Then they ordered him to sign a note saying he would pay them 10,000 yuan (US$1,200) in compensation, after which they called Rao's family asking for the money.

Police searched the mountain after receiving the kidnapping report. Rao was saved but only one of his abductors was arrested.

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