Auckland police are hoping to catch a thief on the hop after a spate of backyard bunny thefts.
One of the rabbits that vanished from a breeder's property recently. Photo: NZ Police
Police have warned rabbit breeders to check their security after thefts by a bunny bandit in the past three weeks.
Police said 15 rabbits, including the Netherland Dwarf breed, Mini Lops and a Mini Rex, have been stolen from backyards in Mt Albert, Blockhouse Bay and Massey recently.
A rabbit rustler was caught on one breeder's CCTV cameras. Photo: NZ Police
Worth up to $50 each, the animals were being taken from their hutches during the early hours of the morning.
One breeder has had 10 rabbits, including babies and mothers, stolen on four separate occasions from her property. A stolen mother Mini Rex left behind a current litter and five three-week-old babies were also taken without their mother.
The breeder has set up CCTV cameras, padlocked her hutches and taken other measures to stop the rabbit rustler.
"We love our rabbits to bits. We may be breeders but that doesn't mean these rabbits aren't part of our families - my rabbits all have names; they're all loved. We just want them back."
Police have asked pet shops to be alert for suspicious behaviour - and if anyone thought they had been offered a hot bunny, to get in touch with them.
