Dogs and cats 'feast' on food stolen in Cobham
The stolen food, which was seized by Surrey Police
Dogs and cats 'feast' on food stolen in Cobham. Emily Davis reports
Stealing is wrong. Fact. However, in a rare theft story that has a happy ending, cats and dogs at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home feasted on the booty of a Surrey robbery.
Karen Briggs, 48, of Hamilton Avenue, Cobham and Linda Coulston, 51, of Rowland Way, Ashford admitted stealing large quantities of meat items from the food court at Cobham Motorway Services on June 24.
A routine stop by officers on the women’s vehicle uncovered large quantities of packaged meat and fish from Marks and Spencer, bottles of flavoured sauce from Starbucks and a large quantity of meat from the BP service station at Leatherhead.
With no receipts for the goods, the women were arrested. Both appeared at Guildford Magistrates Court on Thursday, 26 June, and were charged with theft.
The large quantity of stolen food was recovered by officers dealing with the incident and the goods were taken to Staines Police Station and held in the Property stores.
Surrey Police Property Manager Charlotte Deamer said: "Although the food was from a well-known shop on the high street it isn't our policy to donate anything for human consumption in these situations as there is no guarantee of its quality by the time it's in police hands.
"However, rather than see such a large quantity of good quality food go to waste we spotted an opportunity for it to go to a worthy cause.
"I contacted the nearby branch of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home to see if they could use the selection of meat and fish for the animals. They were swiftly here to collect the goods which were very gratefully received.”
Rebecca Norris, Senior Rehomer, from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home in Old Windsor, said: "We are very grateful for the donation and we have been able to use most of the food.
"So far, the cats have enjoyed meals of prawns and smoke salmon whilst the dogs have enjoyed the steak. The rest of the meat selection will be cooked up for future feasts.”
