posted June 16, 2009 03:14 PM         

A fox has been unmasked as the mystery thief of more than 100 shoes in the small western German town of Foehren, authorities said Friday.

A forest worker stumbled upon shoes strewn near the fox's den and found a trove of footwear down the hole which had recently been stolen overnight from outside locals' front doors.

"There was everything from ladies' shoes to trainers," said a local police spokesman. "We've found between 110 and 120 so far. It seems a vixen stole them for her cubs to play with."

posted June 21, 2009 11:42 AM         

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A family in Bristol have been stunned to find a fox in their garden which regularly brings in "stolen" goods including a wallet and driving licence. Clare Brook found the vixen had also brought a cuddly toy, two shoes and three pairs of brand new gardening gloves to her Redland home.

"From the driving licence I could trace its owner who thought she had been burgled a week before," she said. The vixen was also rearing five cubs under her garden shed, she added.

Mrs Brook first noticed the animal several months ago lying in the middle of her garden lawn. Then, a week later, she saw the vixen with five cubs in a flower bed. Each time one strayed they were chased back to a spot under a garden shed, she said. She then noticed the animal's talent for "stealing" goods.

Mrs Brook said: "My daughter watched the female chewing something at the end of the garden. She walked over and came back with a leather wallet in her hand. The wallet still had money in it and an untouched credit card. From the driving licence I could trace its owner. Apparently she had been 'burgled' a week before, and was confused that the thief had only taken a wallet, but left her iPod and phone where they were."