Brutal late night attack at Cambs aninal shelter

STAFF at Wood Green Animal Shelters in Godmanchester are shocked after one of them was brutally attacked by intruders last weekend. Since the attack, the CCTV coverage at the shelter has been increased. The incident happened in the early hours of Saturda

STAFF at Wood Green Animal Shelters in Godmanchester are shocked after one of them was brutally attacked by intruders last weekend.

Since the attack, the CCTV coverage at the shelter has been increased.

The incident happened in the early hours of Saturday morning when the staff member was patrolling the site to ensure there were no problems with any of the animals. He discovered a man attempting to break into a building containing some equipment.

When he confronted the man he was attacked and then badly beaten by accomplices who had been hiding.

The shelter says it has been the victim of a number of attempted break-ins over the past month. All the intruders were detected before anything was stolen. It is uncertain whether the focus of the break-ins was to steal animals or something else on site.

Dennis Baker OBE, chief executive of Wood Green Animal Shelters said: "We are extremely distressed that a member of staff has been so badly attacked, and cannot understand why anyone would want to steal from a

charity. We do not know if this increase in break-ins is recession

related, but apart from the animals, there is little of value on-site that anyone would want to steal."

Since this assault, the number of staff on duty at the shelter during the night has been increased and CCTV coverage is being extended. Plans to upgrade the lighting in remote parts of the site are awaiting planning permission from Huntingdonshire District Council. The police are visiting the site regularly.

INFORMATION: If you have any information regarding this incident please contact Wood Green Animal Shelters or Cambridgeshire Police on 0845 456 45654.