A Hamilton family have been left heartbroken following the alleged theft of their pet rabbit on Christmas Day.
The animal lovers, who wish to remain anonymous, insist their beloved two-year-old female bunny was securely put out in her hutch on Christmas night, having spent the day in the house roaming free.
However, when they went to check on their black and white bunny on Boxing Day morning, they were distraught to discover she was gone.
After finding three screwdrivers scattered around the lawn, as well as the rabbit's hot water bottle missing, their hearts sunk as they realised their animal had been stolen.
A distraught family member told Lanarkshire Live: "We had a great Christmas Day and she had been inside all day with the family.
"We put her out to her hutch with her pink hot water bottle in her hay to keep her warm as usual but when we went to check on her the following day she was gone, as was the bottle.
"I can only assume they put her in a bag as there is no way she would allow anyone to lift her and carry her for any length of time without kicking out and scratching."
The family are appealing for those who know anything about their rabbit to get in touch with police, offering a cash reward for her safe return.
They are also appealing to those with outdoor pets to use enhanced security measures such as padlocks and security cameras.
The woman continued: "Anyone who's got outside hutches, kennels, aviaries and such needs to have them padlocked or a decent security camera covering the area because people are literally ruthless these days.
"These people really don't know the hurt and distress they have caused by stealing our rabbit.
"It's absolutely shocking that people think they have the right to just take another person's pet. Who does that?
"It would be like me going into their house, putting a lead on their dog and leaving. Just disgusting."
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "We received a report around 11.20am on Sunday, December 26 of a rabbit stolen from a hutch at a property in Burnbank in Hamilton.
"The incident happened over the previous night and enquiries are ongoing."
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