Stolen koi carp were 'part of the household'

Some of Ian Hatton's fish collection had been imported from Japan four months ago

A small business owner said he was heartbroken after having £15,000 worth of koi carp stolen from an outdoor tank next to his home.

Ian Hatton, from Kidsgrove in Staffordshire, lost 70 fish sometime during the early hours of Monday.

"We're only a small business so we're based at home," he said. "You're living with these every day so you're looking after them as if they're your own."

Mr Hatton works part-time installing ponds for residents and businesses, but rearing koi carp, which cannot be insured, was a significant source of his household income, he said.

This tank was filled with koi carp until early Monday 14 but now the few fish that remain hide at the base of the pond

He said he checked on the fish during the early hours but woke up to find the majority had been taken.

He suspects they were taken by organised thieves as they would have needed equipment to take them.

Some of the larger fish were over 30 years old and held significant sentimental value, he said. Some had recently been donated by a woman whose husband had died and a charity had been lined up to take them.

Having joined various fish enthusiast forums, Mr Hatton said he has seen reports of another instance of stolen fish being found dumped on a roundabout.

"I'm more concerned about where they are - has someone taken them? Has someone dumped them?

"A complete waste. At the end of the day, they're animals, they don't deserve for somebody to do this to them."

Staffordshire Police have asked anyone with information, CCTV or doorbell footage to contact them or Crimestoppers.