VICTIMS who have had their rabbits and chickens stolen from a Hanworth allotment fear their animals are being sacrificed to train fighting dogs.

Thieves have broken into the Church Road plots four times in two weeks and stolen rabbits, chickens and quails that are kept as pets.

The pets' owners suspect a group of men have been stealing them for 'baiting' - a technique used to train fighting dogs.

'Bait' animals are live and tied up while the dog is trained. Then the handler unchains the dog and allows it to kill the bait.

The most recent theft was on Wednesday, November 18, when two pet rabbits were stolen from their hutches.

Four days earlier, 30 quails worth £200 were stolen while on November 11 two chickens were taken.

On November 8 two chickens and seven rabbits were taken by thieves, who also battered a cockerel to death.

June Lyons, the cockerel's owner, said: "Everyone's very worried about it. We just don't know what to do to stop it. The police won't help, they say there's no evidence. We think it's four boys who have been walking around the area claiming they have lost their dog, and that they are stealing to train fighting dogs."

One mother, whose son's rabbits Black and Nube were stolen last week, agreed with the theory, but did not want to be named because of fear of reprisals.

She said: "I was really, really shocked about it. This criminal act has left us all broken-hearted, especially me and my son."

A police spokesman said: "We are aware of the thefts and the concerns of the victims and residents around the location. We have increased the patrols in the area and are working with the community to solve the problem."