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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think the police should do more to catch M25 animal killer.

79 replies

ILoveMyMonkey · 19/11/2017 08:40

I'm sure everyone has heard about the 'M25 Cat Killer'.

Well having killed multiple cats and foxes this sicko has now started decapitating rabbits in my local area too. One has been confirmed as an M25 victim and the second is to be confirmed but is highly likely.

According to local reports this sicko is now responsible for over 350 cat deaths and over 40 fox deaths. www.hertsad.co.uk/news/brutal-rabbit-decapitation-latest-in-m25-animal-killer-spate-of-attacks-1-5282093

So AIBU to think the police should do more?

Surely it's just a matter of time before this psycho progresses onto killing people.

I can't believe there is no evidence to link someone (or some group) to all these killings.

OP posts:
Original poster
ILoveMyMonkey · 19/11/2017 08:41

Oops link wasn't clicky I'll try again...

www.hertsad.co.uk/news/brutal-rabbit-decapitation-latest-in-m25-animal-killer-spate-of-attacks-1-5282093

OP posts:
Babbitywabbit · 19/11/2017 08:42

Can you clarify and quantify what the police have done so far please?

Squeegle · 19/11/2017 08:42

I agree. I am near you too. It is atrocious and frightening. Anyone who is systematic and cruel in this way is a real problem for all of us. I don’t know how much the police are doing or are not doing though.

Fitzsimmons · 19/11/2017 08:44

What do you think they should be doing? If there is no cctv and no dna match on their database and the killer is operating over a wide area so no defined pattern, what can the police do?

TheInimitableMrsFanshawe · 19/11/2017 08:44

I hunk the police should probably focus on catching people that kill people, maim people, steal from people and generally make other people’s lives a misery before they start worrying about crimes against animals. I don’t disagree that the stories are very unpleasant but if the murder squad was diverted to deal with this then someone more dangerous isn’t getting caught.

SquirmOfEels · 19/11/2017 08:45

It goes across many police areas, doesn't it?

I still think if the killer as the Croydon Cat Killer, and it does seem to be escalating.

snarl.org.uk

What I'm less sure about is how many of these are the work of one person and how many are copycat. Or perhaps there is just more of this always going on than is ever usually talked about.

StickThatInYourPipe · 19/11/2017 08:47

I think it’s quite likely that this person will eventually kill a human tbh. I’m sure I have read articles about people killing animals to prepare themselves to kill humans.

YANBU OP

Farahilda · 19/11/2017 08:47

"I hunk the police should probably focus on catching people that kill people"

Not a criminologist but isn't it the case that animal cruelty and killings, if they start to escalate, are strongly associated with violent crimes against people.

rockshandy · 19/11/2017 08:49

It is recognised that individuals who have killed humans often began with torturing and killing animals.

So no the "murder squad" doesn't need brought in but this is something that shouldn't be ignored. Who knows when this person could escalate to humans? They could be disturbed on an animal killing occasion and it could go very wrong very quickly.

Callamia · 19/11/2017 08:51

I’m not sure what else they could be doing. Are you?

These crimes happen at night, in areas where there are unlikely to be any witnesses. I was trying to think what would happen if this were people, instead of cats - and I think behaviours would change. We’re not about to ask cats to go about in pairs, or stay in on curfew. This isn’t about victim-blaming cats or owners, I’m just trying to think what would happen if this weren’t about pets.

Another problem is that the crimes cover such a wide area - how could resources be deployed without enormous waste?

Squeegle · 19/11/2017 09:23

Yes, it is widely understood that this kind of serial killing of animals iften precedes serial killing of human beings. That’s why it’s important that this killer should be caught.

blubberball · 19/11/2017 09:23

I really want them to be caught soon. It's so disgusting and upsetting.

Squeegle · 19/11/2017 09:24

There have apparently been some pictures taken of him. Am presuming it’s a man.

Original poster
ILoveMyMonkey · 19/11/2017 09:26

TBH I'm not sure what the police have done or what they plan to do but given the fact that 400 animals have been mutilated and this has been going on for a very long time, then I'd say more needs to be done.

OP posts:
ClaryFray · 19/11/2017 09:31

Yes 100% agree with you. And I'm sure the police would too, if they had the man power, and resources to spare. But due to cuts they can barely keep up with the load as is. It's just one of those things, that sadly until it progresses to people it'll be largely left untouched until they get it handed to them. Ie, Someone gives info or they confess.

Barbaro · 19/11/2017 09:34

I wouldn't be too worried about them escalating to people to be honest. You are all correct, people who kill animals for pleasure then move onto people once they no longer get the same pleasure release they get from killing animals.

This however to me is hate related. It would take less than 350 cats killed to transition to people, and that's just the amount the police are aware of. It could easily be thousands. Whoever this is hates animals, cats in particular, and doesn't even keep 'trophies', he leaves the heads behind I believe and the body. It has been a while since I studied forensic psychology of course, but it doesn't seem like pleasure seeking to me, its just filled with hate for animals. Which is no better of course, the animals don't deserve to die that way. But then I don't know how they die either, if he tortures them first or let's them die slowly bleeding out or just decapitates them. That's makes a difference too in how it's done.

Either way if he was going to transition to people I think it would have happened by now.

WellThisIsShit · 19/11/2017 09:42

But if you don’t know what has been done, how can you declare ‘more must be done!’?

If not much is being done then I’d agree with you, as it is serious and appears to be escalating (although I don’t know the normal level of cat / fox / rabbit deaths to compare statistics, do you?).

If a lot is being done, and several different tactics are being employed tapping into an overall well thought out strategic response... then I’d seriously ask what more can be done right now? Normally it’s a waiting game, with criminals becoming too cocky, over confident and they make mistakes allowing them to be caught. It’s concerning that this hasn’t happened yet. I wonder how many copy cats there are (that’s an unfortunate term sorry!).

Basically, it’s unreasonable to declare ‘more must be done!’ But absolutely not unreasonable to say ‘what’s being done?’

Lokisglowstickofdestiny · 19/11/2017 09:45

My Facebook timeline has regularly updates from snarl and the Police, the offences are across such a wide area I think they are doing what they can do. At this point I wonder whether it is one person or a group as there are so many kills.

MrMeeseekscando · 19/11/2017 09:47

One thing that struck me about the article (unrelated to the sicko killing bunnies) is that the killing happened at some point over 2 days. What is the point of getting a pet bunny and then leaving it on its own outside for days on end?

Original poster
ILoveMyMonkey · 19/11/2017 09:57

Basically, it’s unreasonable to declare ‘more must be done!’ But absolutely not unreasonable to say ‘what’s being done?’

Fair enough. I guess because I only hear snippets in the news it feels like not much is being done and maybe the police should appear more involved so the public get a sense that something is actually being done.

Am I right in thinking the police have only just recently decided to start investigating due to pressure from snarl and the RSPCA?

OP posts:
Callamia · 19/11/2017 10:01

No. The police have been involved for quite some time. SNARL have taken a lead, and are really doing much of the communication about this (sensibly - for reach), but the police have been involved for quite a while. I do know that they’re very careful about what is revealed in case they encourage copycat killings.

allthecheese · 19/11/2017 10:04

My next door neighbour's cat was just killed by the Croydon Cat Killer. It makes me nervous for my own safety (as well as obviously being horrendous for the poor animals). This person needs to be caught.

PrincessoftheSea · 19/11/2017 10:05

I don't get why he is able to do this without being spotted/caught.

bigsighall · 19/11/2017 10:08

I think there was a program on this showing how much work they had done on it (a lot). Might be worth trying to watch that?

mustbemad17 · 19/11/2017 10:11

Been watching this with interest. There was a similar case wasn't there where the psycho went from cats up to bigger animals like deer. I only did limited psychology but there is usually a pattern; starts off killing animals, becomes more frenzied, moves onto bigger animals. Then the leap to abusing humans isn't far off; they reckon that most serial killers began by tormenting animals in their earlier days.

So yes, to answer your OP; personally I'd be expecting the police to treat it as a bit more of a priority. The warning signs are there!!!

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