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Authorities are currently conducting an investigation following the discovery of multiple deceased animals being deliberately left outside a store in Hampshire. As part of this inquiry, a vehicle that has been set on fire has been found and is believed to be connected to this unsettling occurrence.
Grieving employees discovered roughly 50 deceased rabbits, along with a barn owl and a kestrel, outside of the Broughton Community Shop on Friday morning.
There have been multiple comparable occurrences in the vicinity, such as the discovery of nearly 30 rabbits outside of a primary school.
The Hampshire Police informed The Independent on Sunday that they found the charred remnants of a Suzuki Grand Vitara that is believed to be connected to the occurrence.
Detectives were informed the day before that they were attempting to determine the owners of the car.
The police department has requested that members of the community provide any footage from CCTV or dashboard cameras of vehicles that fit this description, if they were spotted in the Test Valley region during the time of the event.
“Authorities are exploring all available avenues of investigation and will be present in the vicinity today to offer reassurance to the community.”
Reports suggest that locals suspect poachers are responsible for the events as a way to intimidate them from getting involved. The Mail Online reports that these individuals are believed to have ties to gangs who stream their actions on Facebook.
A farmer in the area, whose property has been continuously targeted, expressed to the newspaper: “They are essentially mocking us. The disturbing message they left outside our local shop is clearly intended to show that they cannot be stopped.”
On Saturday, Mike Hensman, treasurer of the village shop, spoke to The Guardian about the harrowing situation in Broughton on Friday. He recounted that there were hares and blood on the patio outside the shop, as well as a raptor and an owl that had been forcefully placed onto the shop’s door handles.
“The man who started the store, he is skilled in handling a gun and is accustomed to such situations. Yet, he remains deeply troubled. He is finding it difficult to come to terms with it due to the severity of the incident,” Mr. Hensman stated.
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