A CHAMPION dog breeder with an "infectious smile" was found "murdered" on a driveway just hours after two other break-ins.
Valerie Freer, 68, was found dead at her bungalow in Whittington, Staffordshire on Thursday – and now cops are probing potential links to the other burglaries.
Her family paid tribute to the woman, who had an "illuminating smile and infection laughter" and was "infinitely loved by family and friends."
They added: "Words cannot even begin to describe how truly devastated we are to have lost our wonderful Val.
"An incredibly beautiful lady both inside and out, she was always so loving and caring to all those around her.
"Val is loved infinitely by family and friends around the world. She will be hugely missed, remaining forever in our hearts."
Mrs Freer, who lived at the bungalow on Lichfield Road with her husband, was a renowned breeder of Samoyed dogs.
One of her dogs, Champion Nikara Dancer, was awarded Best in Show at Crufts in 2014.
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Susan Smith, who was Valerie's friend for 40 years and also co-owned the champion dog, said: "Val would certainly have fought tooth and nail for her dogs.
"But we have heard nothing more about that line of enquiry so I think it may have just turned out to be a straightforward burglary.
"Val was a well-loved and respected breeder. She was president of the British Samoyed Club and I am President.
"What has happened is an awful shock. I would just like her to be remembered as a kind-hearted woman who loved her dogs."
A local said in tribute: "It is all very sad. The woman, Valerie, kept four little dogs and would come into the pub from time to time. She is very well-liked in the village."
A man, 26, remains in custody after being arrested in Slough, Berkshire, over the alleged murder.
One woman said she had been told there were two break-ins last week on a nearby mile-long country lane – close to where the woman's body was found.
She added: "They were both on Wednesday, the day before the murder.
"Apparently one householder had to physically close their door on an intruder and another female householder also said that she had seen someone trying to break in.
VILLAGE 'MURDER'
"I am told that both of these incidents were reported to the police."
Officers confirmed they were linking the alleged murder to "a number of other suspicious incidents in the area since 9 February."
This includes the two aggravated burglaries in the local area.
Detective Superintendent Tom Chisholm, head of the Major Investigation Department at Staffordshire Police, said: "We know that this incident will have deeply shocked the community and that is why work is continuing at pace to understand the timeline of events and the circumstances prior to Mrs Freer's death.
"We need to understand the movements of the red Peugeot 208 which we believe had been in the area between 9 and 24 February.
"Anyone who saw anything out of the ordinary in the area, or a vehicle or person/s they didn't recognise in the village between those dates is asked to contact us as soon as possible."
The force said the vehicle was hired in London on 9 February.
And the driver is thought to be a white man, of slim build, and is said to have thick dark hair and a foreign accent.
A spokesman for Staffordshire Police said: "Police and the ambulance service were called to an address on Lichfield Road in the village at around 10.42am on Thursday 24 February.
"Sadly, 68-year-old Valerie Freer, was pronounced deceased by paramedics a short time later. Her death is being treated as murder."
A 72-year-old man, initially arrested in connection with the death, has since been released with no further action to be taken.
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