Two men had to abandon their Proton Wira car that had been modified for cattle rustling after it broke down in Kampung Siam, Sungai Seluang, Lunas near here early today.

The car with the back seat removed was loaded with four cows, rustled from a cattle farm in Sungai Lembu, Bukit Mertajam, in the booth/back seat compartment.

Kulim deputy police chief Chin Soo Song said the farm's owner had lodged a police report on the missing cattle at the Lunas police station at 5am today.

"They (the thieves) had taken the Butterworth-Kulim Expressway in making their escape but after the Lunas Toll Plaza came across members of the public who were helping the owner to find the animals.

"They then accelarated away but their car broke down a short distance away forcing them to abandon the vehicle and booty," he told reporters here.

He added that members of the public joined by a team from the Pertubuhan Perihatin Kemsyarakatan Daerah Kulim( PPKM) later found the animals at around 7am near Kampung Siam, about 15 kilomtres from where they were stolen.

Members of the public with information on the thieves are urged to contact Kulim CID chief ASP C.Tharmalingham at 04-4906222 or the nearest police station.