POLICE are linking a man arrested in Bristol for car theft with the attack on dog handler Andy Whitmarsh and his dog Zeus.

The man, from Bristol, was arrested in the city last week following the theft of three cars from Kemble MoT Centre on July 1. He was questioned before being released on bail.

"The manner of his arrest suggests he could be the same man as involved in the earlier incident," said Sgt Kier Pritchard, of Malmesbury police.

PC Whitmarsh, 39, was punched repeatedly in the stomach and left with a cut lip and loose teeth, and his dog Zeus was kicked three times as they chased one of two men seen trying to steal alloy wheels from cars parked on the forecourt of David Hendry Cars, in Malmesbury.

Sgt Pritchard said he thinks a team of thieves from Bristol could be operating around the town.

Cars were broken into in Crudwell and Corston overnight between 9.15pm on July 2 and 7.30am the following day.

A number of CDs worth £300 were stolen from a Rover 820 at Morgans Tyning Farm in Crudwell after thieves smashed a rear passenger window.

On the same night thieves broke in to an M-Reg green Ford Escort in Corston, near Meadow Cottage, and stole two headlights.

Also on the same night, near Malmesbury, thieves stole a service history from a red K-Reg BMW 318, having punched the lock to get in.

Anyone with information about the thefts is asked to call PC Bob Prior at Malmesbury police on (01666) 822222