Rabbit thefts leave children heartbroken
Families call for police action as pet snatches rise
THE theft of dozens of rabbits and guinea pigs from back gardens in Rochdale have left children heartbroken.
Families say police need to take action after the number of thefts has escalated over recent months.
The Observer reported in October how a thief jumped over Natalie Clegg’s garden wall at Windsor Terrace in Milnrow and crawled into an outhouse to steal her pet rabbit Arthur.
Since then, residents say as many as 20 animals have been taken in similar circumstances - leaving children heartbroken to lose their treasured pets.
Only last week, the Observer was contacted by a mum whose two rabbits were taken.
A thief got into the back garden of the property in Percy Street, off Kingsway and took Chocolate and Snowflake.
The mum, who did not want to be named, said: “We are absolutely devastated.
“They were both only eight months old my daughter got them for her birthday this year in June.”
CHILDREN have been left heartbroken by the theft of dozens of rabbits and guinea pigs from back gardens in Rochdale.
Families say police need to take action after the number of thefts has escalated over recent months.
The Observer reported back in October how a thief jumped over Natalie Clegg’s garden wall and crawled into an outhouse to steal her pet rabbit Arthur.
CCTV footage captured the man crawling on all fours in the garden in Windsor Terrace, in Milnrow, before taking Arthur, and leaving his mate Olive behind.
Since then, residents say as many as 20 animals have been taken in similar circumstances - leaving children heartbroken to lose their treasured pets.
Only last week, the Observer was contacted by a mum whose two rabbits were taken on Thursday night.
A thief got into the back garden of the property in Percy Street, off Kingsway, and took bunnies Chocolate and Snowflake.
The mum, who did not want to be named, said: “We are absolutely devastated.
“They were both only eight months old my daughter got them for her birthday this year in June.
“I’m not sure I can tell them they have been stolen as they will be devastated, I think I’ll leave them a letter from the rabbits to say they have gone on an adventure. I just don’t have the heart.
“I’m going to try and get through Christmas and tell them after.”
The mum has joined a group on Facebook where other victims have been sharing details of their own stolen pets.
Most are understood to have happened around Milnrow, Newhey, Kingsway, Spotland, Castleton, Moorland and Firgrove.
Another resident Vanessa Bennett has had her five-year-old granddaughter’s pets stolen from her home in two separate incidents, on December 3 and again 10 days later.
She said: “We had two rabbits taken by climbing over next door’s fence and then he came back and took two guinea pigs after taking a fence panel off and then taking the security camera down and taking it with him.
“One guinea pig was ginger, white and black and the other was white. We have reported it to the police because he knows we have more and we are expecting him to come back.”
Police have issued a warning on Facebook about the thefts.
A post on the GMP Rochdale page, shared on December 11, said: “We have had a number of thefts in the Rochdale area of rabbits and guinea pigs. Please ensure your hutch is secure via a padlock and where possible secure garden gates.”
A police spokeswoman told the Observer they could not confirm the number of thefts.
Commenting further on the police Facebook page, GMP Rochdale said: “Investigations into these thefts are ongoing, if you see/hear anything suspicious please contact the police on 101, if you have any CCTV footage please email this to rochdalenorth@gmp.police.uk.”