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11:00 25/02/2021
Northamptonshire Police is sharing advice to help dog owners keep their pets safe following a number of dog thefts in the county.
Dog thefts have increased nationally during the Covid-19 pandemic, as criminals seek to exploit the growing numbers of people looking to buy a puppy or dog.
Reports about stolen dogs have been received from across Northamptonshire, including recent incidents where both pets and working dogs were taken from homes and gardens.
PC Michelle Clapson, of the Rural Crime Team at Northamptonshire Police, said: “We understand how important people’s dogs are to them – they are part of the family, so we want to help everyone understand the best way to keep them safe.
“With demand for dogs still really high, we’re sharing advice with owners to keep their beloved pets safe, and also sharing advice to help those looking for a new dog to do so responsibly.”
One of the incidents reported recently to the Force involved someone advertising puppies for sale on a selling site, and when a viewing was arranged the prospective ‘buyer’ then stole the animals.
Others involved dogs being taken from people’s homes, gardens or yards.
PC Clapson said: “Every report we receive is heartbreaking, these dogs are people’s companions and every theft leaves a family devastated.
“By taking a few simple steps you can help to protect your furry friend – from keeping them where you can see them both at home and out and about, to making sure your social media profiles are set to private so people you don’t know can’t see your photos or work out where you live.”
She added that if anyone would like help or support from the Rural Crime Team on crime prevention around dog thefts, they can email [email protected]