Police in Dudley have rallied local businesses to support Brockswood Animal Sanctuary after it was targeted by cruel thieves.

Five animals were stolen from their enclosures while the centre was closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, and groups of people were breaking in to illegally fish in the ponds.

The callous incidents follow an arson attack in September 2019 that also forced the sanctuary to close.

The Sedgley-based, not-for-profit sanctuary looks after 218 animals. It is only open to the public in the summer months and the money it makes pays to feed the animals all year-round.

As a result of what happened the sanctuary desperately needed to boost its security measures – something it couldn’t afford to do after losing a huge chunk of income due to the ongoing health crisis.

PCSO Kelly White heard about Brockswood’s plight and contacted West Midlands Police’s crime prevention team who were able to enlist the help of some top Dudley-based businesses.

Several security firms and OMG (a social media marketing company) donated goods and services worth more than £7,000.

Gifted items included mesh fencing, padlocks and CCTV cameras.

The gaps in the fence line have now been plugged and the main gates, paddocks and outbuildings have high-security padlocks in place. The walls and fences have been fortified with defender strips and CCTV covers the fishing pool and animal pens.

Neil Swann, of Brockswood Animal Sanctuary, said: “I’m really impressed with the police as they’ve managed to secure us a lot of help at no cost to the charity or West Midlands Police – the support from them has been amazing.

“But most of all I’m blown away by the generosity of people living in Dudley and the companies that have donated their products and services.”