A family pet vanished from a front garden in broad daylight, and the CCTV footage that followed shocked viewers. Thankfully, the story has a happy ending: Peter is home and recovering.
What the CCTV Shows
On Saturday, October 17, 2026, around 5:18 p.m., two people took Peter, a nine-year-old pet rabbit, from his pen at his family’s home on St Pauls Street in Hull, East Yorkshire. Footage shows one man in a dark winter coat bend down, lift Peter into the air by his ears and walk off while another man filmed. Peter appears to struggle. The men appear to be laughing.
Owner Amy and her teenage children came home to find him gone and called Humberside Police, which said it received a report of a rabbit stolen from a garden at around 8:30 p.m.
A Night of Searching
Amy posted the footage on social media, and the family spent hours searching parks, gardens and flats with torches. At one point, she said, she was told the men had tried to sell Peter to a neighbor, who assumed he was a wild rabbit.
Peter isn’t an ordinary pet to care for. He has gut stasis, a serious digestive condition in rabbits, and needs medication three times a day, which he missed while he was missing.
Found in a Car Park
The next day, a stranger who had found a small brown rabbit in a car park about a mile away took him in and gave him food and water. After seeing the missing posts, the person messaged Amy with a photo, and she collected Peter from a house near Pearson Park.
A vet checked him over, and the family says he is expected to make a full recovery at home with the rest of the family’s pets.
What Was Said on the Footage
The Daily Mail reported that a Russian speaker who contacted the family translated one of the men as saying they would “make shashlik” of the rabbit, a remark that could have been a joke. The newspaper’s own translator reported other phrases. These accounts have not been confirmed, and Humberside Police haven’t commented on what the men said. The police are investigating the theft, and no arrests have been reported.
Handling Rabbits Safely
Animal welfare groups advise never to pick up a rabbit by its ears. Rabbits should be lifted with one hand under the chest and the other supporting the hindquarters, close to the body. Rabbits are also prey animals, and stress can worsen health problems such as gut stasis.
Protecting Your Pets From Theft
- Secure the enclosure. Compare rabbit hutches with locks, secure runs and gate bolts.
- Add CCTV. Home security cameras and doorbell cameras can help police identify thieves.
- Microchip your pet. Many vets can microchip rabbits, which helps reunite lost pets with owners.
- Prepare for emergencies. Pet insurance can help with vet bills, including long-term conditions.
- Report quickly. Contact police and local vets, and share a photo and description.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where was Peter taken from? From his family’s garden pen on St Pauls Street in Hull, on Saturday, October 17, 2026.
Is Peter okay? A vet checked him after he was found, and he’s expected to make a full recovery.
Who is investigating? Humberside Police are investigating the theft.
What is gut stasis? It’s a serious digestive condition in rabbits that requires regular medication and prompt veterinary care.
Sources: AOL UK (Hull Live), Brit Brief, and the Daily Mail, all covering the October 2026 theft of Peter the pet rabbit from a garden in Hull and his return the next day.
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