A heartbroken victim has made an appeal after three baby ferrets were stolen from a garden in a County Durham village.

The pet ferrets were stolen from a hutch in the back garden of a house in Moor Edge, Brandon, near Durham, at around 6am last Friday, September 13.

The babies are around six weeks old and are polecat-ferret hybrids.(Image: Durham Police)

The victim said: “I am devastated at the theft of my pets. They are only babies - I cannot believe that someone would be so heartless as to steal them.

“I am so worried that they are not being taken care of properly. I just want them back home safe with me so I can look after them.”

Durham Police would like to speak to anyone who knows their whereabouts, or who knows anyone who has recently acquired three baby ferrets.

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Anyone with information is urged to contact 101, quoting crime reference number CRI00569343.

You can also submit information online at www.durham.police.uk or information can be passed on anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their website at www.crimestoppers-uk.org