Has the AI changed recently on HD? Cause they lame me every game

So a little context, I play against hard/hardest AI on steamHD and have just come back after not playing for a few months. Well I've noticed recently the AI steals my sheep consistently every game. It occurs when I have pulled my first boar, and I am distracted planning my 2nd boar pull, mill/berries/house and scouting.

The AI scout makes a beeline for my TC, steals my sheep and leaves, and I have to pull my scout back and hope I can intercept them. I usually play with 1 live sheep under TC and the rest sitting under one of the 'wings' away from my vills so they don't go and kill 3 sheep at once.

I tried today to see if the AI was just going to TC and leaving and hid sheep near berries (which were very close to TC) but the AI ignored TC, and went straight to my berries, stole my sheep.

I usually beat the hard AI easily so its not a problem, but god its frustrating me, and I have never experienced this before in nearly about 15 years of aoe, both disc and HD. Anybody else? how did you guys get around this, cause I'd like to know. (Only way I found so far is walls and leaving scout at home, which I don't like)

thanks