PET owners are being urged to be vigilant after a spate of rabbit thefts in a Kent town.

Police are investigating three incidents in Gillingham, all carried out in less than a fortnight and believe to be linked.

Two rabbits have been snatched and a bid to take a third ended in failure after thieves abandoned the hutch before making off.

The first theft happened in Kingswood Road, Gillingham, on Sunday, December 30, between 9am and 1.45pm.

On this occasion, a four-year-old white male albino floppy-eared rabbit was taken from the garden of the property.

The second theft occurred between 2pm on Monday, January 1 and 10am the next morning when a 16-month-old mottled grey female rabbit and its hutch were taken from the garden of a property in Jeffery Street.

The third incident happened in Burnt Oak Terrace, between around midnight on Wednesday, January 2, and 9am the following morning.

At this address a dog kennel was stolen from the garden and thieves attempted to steal the hutch with the rabbit inside.

They dragged it 10ft up the garden but left it behind when they left the scene.

A spokesman for Medway Police said: “We are linking all three incidents and are urging anyone with information to contact us on 01634 891055.

Alternatively call CrimeStoppers free and anonymously on 0800 555 111.