Who stole my Rat?

HE was a beloved family pet named after the hero in cult television show The Prisoner.

But now Six the rat has been taken captive by a burglar after a bizarre theft which has left police baffled.

The black and white rodent and his wire cage were the only items stolen during a break-in at a city home.

Televisions, a DVD player, games consoles and cash were all left untouched as the burglar targeted the four-month old pet, but left a second rat - called Mouse - in a separate cage behind.

His owner James Wood, 21, today made an appeal for his safe return amid concerns over the rat's welfare.

Animal rescue workers condemned the robbery, which they said could leave Six suffering from "severe stress";.

The latest pet-napping follows the theft of a number of dogs in Edinburgh, including Barney the cocker spaniel, who was reunited with his worried owner after nine months.

Barney disappeared from outside Sainsbury's in Rose Street in January last year, sparking an appeal by the Evening News to help find him. The latest thief is believed to have slipped into the flat in Loganlea Terrace after Mr Wood and his mother went out last Friday night and left their front door unlocked.

Mr Wood said: "They could have taken the TV or something so it's all pretty strange. I can't really work it out. I bought Six as company for my other rat - rather confusingly named Mouse - but they didn't really get on. Rats can be quite territorial so they were just fighting with each other. I bought another cage from the pet shop and they were fine. But he was very affectionate and incredibly tame, as most rats are as pets."

Six was actually the seventh rat James has owned and he was named after the Patrick McGoohan character, Number Six, from one of his favourite TV shows, The Prisoner.

James, who work as a full-time carer for his mother Adrian, 39, said he was eager to see his pet returned safely and offered a £50 reward. He added: "I've no idea who would have taken him or why, but I just want him back."

His mother said: "There was a handbag with money in the living room and there were lots of electrical goods. I don't know why someone would steal a family pet.

"I would have preferred if they had taken the TV and I only felt robbed. Instead, they have left us wondering what will happen to Six.

"You get attached to pets, even if some people would say he was just a rat. But he was my son's pet and we were used to seeing him in the living room when we got up in the morning."

The family have put notices up in their local shops pleading for Six's return and asked neighbours to keep their eyes peeled for any sign of him.

Doreen Graham, spokeswoman for the SSPCA, said: "I've heard of pedigree dogs being stolen during burglaries but never a pet rat, but I'm sure it's just as distressing to the owners as losing a dog. A pet very quickly becomes an integral part of the family."

Ms Graham added that rats needed to be given a special food mix and water throughout the day, and also required regularly cleaning of their cage. She said: "It's the not knowing what has happened to them which can be the hardest thing for owners.

"They don't know if they are being well-treated. This pet could also find the ordeal very stressful".

A police spokesman said: "The theft of any pet is distressing to its owner.

"This crime is certainly out of the ordinary - in 20 years I've never heard of anything like it."

Who moved my cheese? no who moved my Rat?