Police hunting for the perpetrators of a sickening dump of dead animals outside a village shop have identified a burnt out car which they believe is linked to the incident.
It comes after around 50 bloodied hares were left at the entrance to the Broughton Community Shop in Hampshire on Thursday night in a gruesome display.
The suspects impaled a barn owl and kestrel on the shop’s door handles and rubbed animal blood and guts over the windows in what locals believe is a deeply sinister ‘message’ from the poachers to discourage them from interfering in their activities.
Now, a Suzuki Grand Vitara, which police believe is linked to the incident, has been located.
Other wild creatures including rabbits, pheasants, deer and birds of prey have been dumped in surrounding roads and fields in recent weeks, including a grim collection of 27 rabbits outside a primary school.
A spokesperson for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said: ‘Officers investigating a number of dead animals left outside a shop in Broughton have located a burnt out Suzuki Grand Vitara which is believed to be linked to the incident.
Dozens of bloodied hares were dumped by illegal poachers at the entrance to the community shop in Broughton, Hampshire
‘We are still asking the public to send us CCTV or dash cam images of any cars matching this description seen in the Test Valley area around the time of the incident.
‘Officers are following all possible lines of enquiry and will be in the area today to provide reassurance to local residents.
‘Anyone with information about this incident should call 101, quoting reference 44240111410. To update us online, visit https://www.hampshire.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/.’
Other wild creatures including rabbits, pheasants, deer and birds of prey have been dumped in surrounding roads
The poachers are thought to be linked to gangs who run international gambling syndicates, raking in hundreds of thousands of pounds a night.
It is believed they hunt illegally using guns and aggressive, specially-bred bull lurchers, and broadcast their activities live on Facebook, taking bets on how many animals the dogs can kill.
Poachers near Broughton are believed to be hunting illegally using guns and specially-bred bull lurchers
Pictured: A solitary dead deer left lying in the middle of a field
Mike Jelen, a conservation manager who works on estates in the area, said: ‘This is now happening twice a week.
‘It’s total anarchy and the police are doing little about it. By dumping the bodies like this, the poachers are sticking two fingers up to farmers and rural communities.’
He said farmers and landowners are ‘constantly’ trying to prevent the attacks, putting themselves at risk. Pheasant poachers recently opened fire on a farmer who confronted them.
One local farmer, whose land has been targeted repeatedly, said: ‘They are basically laughing in our faces. The horrific display they left outside our community shop is obviously meant to let us know they’re invincible.’
The perpetrators even impaled a barn owl and kestrel on the shop’s door handles and rubbed animal blood and guts over the windows
Broughton Community Shop said that they had reported the incident to the police, in a statement on social media.
They asked locals to share any CCTV of the area from 3am to 3.45am as they thanked them for helping them to clear the distressing scene.
They said: ‘Safe to say non(e) of us were expecting our day to start as it did here this morning at Broughton Community Shop.
‘Thank you all for popping in, messaging and phoning to make sure we are ok. We are ok. Shocked but ok.
Birds of prey have been also been used for the sinister displays
‘Thank you again for all of your help, we are so lucky and grateful for your support and extremely quick response to help us clear up.’
They added: ‘Your fabulous shop team rallied round and got it all cleaned up. Please do continue to support your shop we are here to serve you.’
Horrified followers took to the comments to show their horror at the cruel displays.
A New Forest groceries shop said: ‘We’re so very sorry you’ve had to deal with this.
‘My heart broke when I heard what had happened. Pure needless destruction of our beautiful world.
‘I sincerely hope whoever is responsible is caught and dealt with appropriately. It’s an abhorrent act. Thinking of you all.’
Pictured: A chilling sight as animal corpses are scattered across a road in Broughton
And another, Louise Banfield, added: ‘Just seen what happened. I can’t imagine why anyone would do such a vile thing. Hope you are all OK, what a dreadful shock.’
Animals were also dumped outside Awbridge Primary School around ten miles from Broughton in February.
Local resident Mandy Robinson, 47, told the Hampshire Chronicle the scene was ‘like something out of a horror movie’.
She said: ‘This was only about an hour or some before the school breakfast club began, so there were going to be primary school children walking by this horrible sight. I don’t know why someone would do this.’
Jayne Fahey, headteacher of the school, added: ‘As Headteacher, I am truly saddened by this event and struggle to comprehend why anyone would think it an appropriate action.’
The paper also reported 40 animal corpses were dumped north of Stockbridge, the next village over from Broughton, in November.
If you have any information about the incident, you can call the police on 101, quoting the crime reference number 44240111410, or you can report it via their website – https://www.hampshire.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/cor/tell-us-about-existing-case-report/.
