It's a Ferret Life

Ferret thieves caught on CCTV

Thieves in hooded jumpers captured on CCTV cameras making off with heavily protected rare breed of ferrets. THIEVES were recorded by CCTV cameras stealing ferrets from a Compton garden on Monday.

Ferret Thieves Caught on CCTV

Fri, November 02 2007
Newbury Today
By Ben Johnson, Reporter

You can watch exclusive footage of the thieves as they make off with the rare breed of ferrets by clicking on the video link above.
The thieves, who attempted to disguise themselves with hooded sweatshirts, were filmed breaking into the heavily- protected garden through a fence before making off with five ferrets - two of which were a rare, black-eyed white breed.
Burglar alarms, barbed wire and CCTV (closed circuit television) did not deter them as they loaded the animals from cages into a stolen ferret carrying box.
The burglar alarm was activated, but its high pitched wailing did not deter the thieves from finishing the job.
One of the thieves had his face clearly captured by the cameras before doing up his hood.
The owner of the property, Paul Collins, has owned ferrets for 40 years and said that this incident was the second time his animals had been targeted in the last six months.
He said: “It’s not like going out and buying a new telly. These animals are irreplaceable and there’s no way that I’ll get another pair of black-eyed white ferrets.”
Although Mr Collins is upset over his personal loss he said that he was more concerned about the overall picture of rural crime in the area, claiming it was on the rise.
Henley Dog Watch, a local organisation responsible for recording rural crime in West Berkshire, reported 15 similar incidents in the Downlands area since the beginning of the year in which dogs and farm equipment had been stolen.
Mr Collins said: “Rural crime is just getting ridiculous in this area.”
“I don’t think the police are doing enough and we never hear anything back from them when these crimes are reported. These crimes are going on daily and weekly.”
Dogwatch chairman, Michael Colston, said that the crimes were very serious and that victim’s livelihoods were at risk in cases where working dogs had been taken.
He said: “I think that 15 incidents in that small area is a huge number deserving of closer attention.”
Mr Colston also added that until recently, police records were incongruous with those of Dog Watch as animal thefts were being recorded as property thefts by the police, which resulted in a misleading picture of this kind of crime.
Thames Valley Police spokesman Adam Fisher assured Downlands residents that police were taking the matter very seriously and that the ferret theft was being investigated as a burglary.
Mr Fisher also added that one of two dogs stolen from West Ilsley at the start of the month had been recovered through the Dog Watch Scheme.

Anyone with information about this most recent burglary should contact PC Teresa Allen on 08458 505505, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

To watch the CCTV footage of the thieves as they make of with the ferrets, click on the link above.