A CALLINGTON couple this week said it would cost more than £2,500 to restock their pond, after thieves stole at least 300 fish over several months.

In the latest incidents, between Tuesday September 9 and Friday September 11, all but three of the goldfish were taken. It follows the theft of two large coy carp, valued at around £600 each, in May and June.

The crime occurred at a property in Launceston Road between Kelly Bray and Callington.

Owner Malcolm Doney said: 'The pond has been there for 21 years and the fish have gradually increased in numbers over that time.

'The first thing the grandchildren do when they come here is ask to go and feed the fish with me. I am gutted to think someone has come onto my property and taken the fish as they have.'

His wife Adele Doney said the coy had been in the pond since it was built —many of the goldfish were eight inches long and probably worth £20 each.

'Someone obviously knows what they are doing and knows where they can sell these fish,' she said.

'They replaced the net each time but it was obvious something was wrong when the fish did not come up to the surface for their food. The whole pond used to be orange but now it is sad, dark and empty.'

The Doneys are installing an sensor to detract criminals from their property.

Police community support officer Mark Stribley said: 'Coy carp have always been attractive to people who steal and the bigger they are the more valuable they are.

'If people do have expensive fish they should make sure they have security measures in place should somebody try and steal them as this is the second time it has happened in the Callington area although we do not think they are related.

Anyone with information on these incidents should contact Callington Police Station on 08452 777444 and quote crime reference number BN/08/474.