CORNWALL — A North Lancaster beef farmer returned home from visiting family on Christmas day to discover more than 1,000 pounds of beef had been stolen from four freezers in his house.

"They emptied my freezers except for one," said Peter Amstutz. "They took all they could take. It’s a real hit."

Amstutz is hoping someone will recognize his packaged meat and call police. Some brown packages were stamped "HAMBURGER" in big square blue letters and have a white seal. Some packaging has the price on it."

But some of the choice cuts of steak were not labelled, he said. "My insurance doesn’t cover this."

Cameras, two computers, his late wife’s jewellery box and a safe holding personal documents were also stolen, he said, noting that the back window of his house had been broken.

Amstutz, who farms northeast of Cornwall, says his 100-head of Belted Galloway beef animals is one of the largest Galloway herds in eastern Canada.