ARREST OVER CAT CARNAGE Possible link to Croydon attacks
A MAN has been arrested over the killing of five pets as police probe whether the case is linked to the so-called “Croydon cat killer”.
The 31-year-old was held after five decapitated cats were found in Northampton.
Police are investigating whether the killings are linked to up to 400 gruesome animal slayings which started in Croydon, London, in 2015 and spread throughout England.
In the latest attacks, the dead pets were left for the owners or members of the public to find.
The first, one-year-old Rusty, was found by a 14-year-old girl after being left in a plastic bag on the owner’s doorstep.
Topsy, a 15-year-old moggy, was also discovered in a bag outside its owner’s property in September before two unnamed cats were found dead in October.
In November, Northamptonshire Police urged cat and rabbit owners to keep pets inside at night after a decapitated cat was placed on top of a car near the owner’s home. The force previously said the five deaths were being treated as part of a Met Police probe into hundreds of killings countrywide.
The Met and charity SNARL (South Norwood Animal Rescue and Liberty) believe more than 400 creatures have been mutilated and killed since 2015. Deaths have also included rabbits, foxes, deer and a squirrel.
A spokesman for the Met said it was “aware” of the arrest and its own probe was ongoing.
SNARL, which has been helping detectives with the investigation, has advised pet owners not to assume their animals are no longer in danger.
A spokesman said: “We are desperately worried that people will think it’s safe to let their pets out. It’s not, attacks are continuing and we attended yesterday and today several incidents.
“It’s one of those things that are part and parcel of a large, ongoing and complex investigation.
“People get looked into and spoken with on an ongoing basis.”
A £10,000 reward has been offered to find the killer.
Psychologists fear whoever is responsible may switch from cats and start targeting people.
The arrested man has been released under investigation.