Shut wildlife park calls for help with break-ins

A Kent wildlife park is asking for help from the public to prevent break-ins.

Sandwich Wildlife Park, which was closed to the public in 2021 and no longer houses animals, has been "repeatedly targeted" by trespassers, said managing director Tony Binskin.

In April TVs, cabling, lawn mowers and chainsaws were stolen from the site.

Damages could total £120,000 and are having an impact on expansion plans at sister site Wingham Wildlife Park, Binskin said.

"Our maintenance team are currently having to divert valuable time away from working on the next stage of our expansion at Wingham Wildlife Park in order to travel to Sandwich and repair damage caused by trespassers," he said.

CCTV footage of the incidents has been shared with Kent Police.

Binskin asked anyone with any information to contact the police or the park.

A spokesperson for Kent Police said they received a report on Monday about an earlier break-in at the site.

"It was reported between 8 August and 10 August the property was damaged and items had been taken," they said.

"It was also reported that footage of the break-in had been posted online."

They added initial inquiries have been completed, including a review of all available CCTV.

The force has also urged anyone with information to come forward.

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