A SLIPPERY customer has been caught on camera stealing over £100,000 of fish from a hotel spa on the outskirts of Chester.

Staff at the Grosvenor Pulford Hotel and Spa were baffled at the mysterious disappearance of more than 50 Koi carp, worth around £2,000 each, from the hotel spa's Asian Sensory Garden.

 

The Grosvenor Pulford Hotel and Spa. Picture: Google.

The Grosvenor Pulford Hotel and Spa. Picture: Google.

 

This was despite security measures such as an electric fence being installed around the perimeter of the two ponds.

But after CCTV was installed, the thief was caught on camera – and it turned out to be a thieving (and peckish) otter.

Footage shows the cunning otter using its sleek frame to navigate around the fences and slip into the pond, snatching Koi fish and fleeing, remaining unshocked the whole time.

Overall, around 50 Koi, an Amur carp breed, which is also known as Nishikigoi, has been stolen from the ponds. Ranging from around £2000 per fish, the Grosvenor Pulford Hotel estimates a loss of around £100,000 worth of carp, thanks to the hungry otter.

 

The sneaky otter caught on camera.

The sneaky otter caught on camera.

 

Andrew Nelson, director of Nelson Hotels & Inns, said: “It was definitely a surprise to say the least to find that an otter was the culprit for our huge loss of fish!

"With the fences we have installed previously to protect smaller fish from herons, we didn’t expect any large animals to be able to access the pond areas.

“With around £100K worth of Koi now lost, we are trying to find a solution to prevent any further loss.

"Our colourful carp are not only eye-catching habitants of our garden, who have enjoyed a happy home on our grounds undisturbed for many years, but a substantial investment into our venue.”