Not-so fantastic fox pinches Ferring man’s wallet

The fox captured on camera in Michael's garden

The cunning critter entered retired bank manager, Michael Murray’s, home three times – twice to retrieve a pair of Croc shoes and once for his wallet which was in his bedroom – before being spotted by Mike’s wife, Laura.

Michael, 59, of Glynde Close, Ferring said: “There were notes and change left on the bed, which it didn’t touch, the fox obviously preferred to use credit cards.

“It obliterated my Crocs but they were pretty awful actually, anyway.”

“If I hadn’t seen it I’d have thought I’d been burgled and called the police  around when it was really a sly fox.”

Michael said about two weeks after the incident the fox entered his house uninvited once more.

Laura was making coffee when it entered through the kitchen and made its way to the bedroom where it left a Subway wrapper.

“It was really passive. It looked healthy and was obviously a younger one.

“We see it as an amusing thing but on the serious side we have grandchildren who sleep in that bedroom. Obviously, when they are here we keep the doors shut.”

Billy Elliott, the senior animal rescue officer at WADARS, said: “Occasionally we do hear about situations where foxes are brazen and go into people’s houses through cat flaps, open doors, or they can smell food.

“Foxes try and avoid confrontation, they are very cautious animals by nature but because some people leave food out they tend to lose some of their instinctive fear.

“Fox cubs are normally born in spring and around this time of year their parents drive them away.

“If someone’s left a door open they will take their chance or they will literally starve to death.”

Gill Silk, head teacher of Ferring CoE Primary School, issued a letter to homeowners in Ferring after foxes used the school grounds as a toilet and she asked people not to encourage them by leaving food out.

The letter reads: “This is obviously a major concern to us as the health, safety and welfare of our children and adults is of paramount importance, and we are well aware of the risks posed by fox excrement.”