Shetland Pony Trenton.jpg

Generic photo of a Shetland pony posted on Facebook by Trenton police. (Wiki Commons photo from Flickr: Shetland Pony on Belstone Common, Dartmoor)

(Miles Wolstenholme)

TRENTON, MI -- Trenton police say thieves were after unusual loot: Pony hair.

The police department on Wednesday posted a message on Facebook stating someone had cut off the long tail hair of four ponies at city-run Elizabeth Park. The post was accompanied by the picture of a Shetland pony, which appears to be a free-use generic image available online.

The pony tail hair vanished some time between 3:30 p.m. Monday and 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.

A Google search reveals the theft of tail hair -- especially from horses -- is not uncommon.

A story out of Nebraska in January said horse tail hair can sell online for as much as $400 per pound. This online horse hair retailer sells a pound of its longest hair for nearly $300.

Anyone with information is asked to call Trenton police at 734-676-3825. The incident occurred between 3:30 pm on April 11,2016 and 3:30 pm on April 12, 2016.