Police step up inquiry as more rabbits are stolen
ASPATE of pet thefts in Rochdale is continuing with even more families devastated over the loss of their beloved pets.
We reported in December how families were demanding action over numerous thefts of rabbits and guinea pigs.
More than a dozen people had reported their pets missing from hutches in their back gardens around the areas of Milnrow, Newhey, Kingsway, Spotland, Castleton, Moorland and Firgrove.
It came after we highlighted one of the first thefts back in October when 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.
Then just before Christmas a thief got into the back garden of the property in Percy Street, off Kingsway, and took bunnies Chocolate and Snowflake.
Now there have been even more incidents, including the theft of a rabbit a fortnight ago and the theft of two guinea pigs from the Foxholes Road area on Sunday.
Nicola Leach was shocked when she discovered her grandson’s guinea pigs Winnie and Wilma had been snatched from the hutch in her garden.
She can’t bring herself to tell the 10-year-old what’s happened.
“It was his birthday on the day they were taken so we couldn’t tell him,” said Nicola.
“I just found the cage open. He loves animals and wants to be a vet when he is older, his mum has told him my friend who has a farm has taken them so they can run free in her barn.”
Residents have joined a group on Facebook to share details of their stolen pets and compile any evidence.
Some have reported the thief returning within a couple of weeks, looking to see whether stolen pets have been replaced.
“Sadly I feel it could be for food,” said Nicola. “I think it’s 19 that have actually been reported to the police, but how many haven’t god knows.
“I’ve been made aware also that he is returning to the property a few weeks after in the hope that the animals have been replaced.
“I definitely won’t be getting any more. I can’t be telling the grandchildren when something horrible happens like this.”
Another resident’s CCTV captured a man crawling around near to the hutch in her garden in the early hours of Saturday.
Thankfully she had taken her son’s rabbits inside after hearing about the recent thefts.
Police have confirmed there have been 19 such incidents since October and have now appointed an officer to deal specifically with the thefts.
Sergeant Brendan Walsh, neighbourhood sergeant for Rochdale East, said: “These incidents have caused a great deal of upset to families who have had their pets stolen and I can imagine how difficult that will have been particularly for those with young children.
“We have been carrying out work in relation to these offences to identify the offender.
“Given the number of offences and lines of enquiry which need to be investigated I have taken the decision to have one officer as the single point of contact for these crimes which will be PC Victoria Owen.
“PC Owen can be contacted by calling 0161 856 8549 or by emailing RochdaleEast@gmp.police.uk.”
He added: “Finally, I would ask that people contact PC Owen about any CCTV or other information they have rather than posting it on social media.
“There have been instances recently of CCTV being posted and shared on social media but not being sent to the police and there is every chance that the offender will be monitoring social media posts.”