Cat killings in Canford Heath, Poole, believed to be linked

Officers currently believe the two fatal incidents and a third in which a cat was injured in the Canford Heath area of Poole are linked.

The current assumption is a human was involved based on assessment by vets.

Poole Neighbourhood Policing Team has followed a number of leads and are still trying to identify suspects.

The first cat went missing from Hythe Road in August last year. It returned in October alive but had injuries similar to those found dead last month.

A resident discovered a dead cat in Chaldon Road, where it lived, on January 4.

The second dead cat was located by a passer-by driving in Yarrow Road on January 12. The owner has never come forward.

A spokesperson for Poole Police said: “The injuries to all three cats were disturbing and similar in type. Our working assumption is that the three incidents are linked and that a human was likely involved based on information provided by a qualified vet.

“All three cats were female. It is unclear at this stage if that is part of the motive.

“A number of leads have been followed and Poole NPT will continue to exploit opportunities to identify a suspect.

“For obvious reasons we cannot divulge our tactics in a social media post, but we did want to provide an update to the local community around our investigation.

“Patrols continue in this area. Please continue to report suspicious individuals. You may observe something that could be vital to this investigation.

“By reporting via the correct channels, provides police the opportunity to exploit CCTV and other tactical options to maximise our evidential opportunities promptly.

“These incidents are incredibly important to us, as we know they are to the community in Canford Heath. We are here for you.”

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