Peterborough dog owners warned after rise in pet thefts

The demand for dogs has soared across the country due to more people working from home and having extra time on their hands.

DCI Chris O’Brien said: “Dogs are often part of the family and having them stolen can be absolutely devastating.

“Whilst we are not currently seeing an increase in dog thefts in Cambridgeshire, we’d urge pet owners to consider taking extra precautions to help deter thieves and protect your pets. You can never be too careful.”

Extra precautions include:

Keep an ID tag on your dog at all times

Lock gates using bolts at the top and bottom, along with a heavy-duty padlock

Ensure there are no places where dogs or other animals can escape or be pulled through, if they are left in a back garden

Never leave your pet in the garden unattended

Fit a bell or gate alarm so it makes a sound when someone opens it

Purchase a driveway alarm so you are alerted to any visitors, these can also be used in rear gardens

Make sure your dog is microchipped and their details are updated so that they can be returned if they are stolen and subsequently found

Avoid leaving a dog tied up outside a shop or left alone in a car, even for a few minutes

Take lots of photographs of your dog to prove ownership if it’s stolen and then found

Report dog theft to police straight away

Always report stolen dogs to police, as sometimes officers have been able to reunite owners with their four-legged friends.

Anyone with info about a stolen dog, or suspicious behaviour, can report it via the force’s web chat service: https://bit.ly/2D9KFKH or by calling 101 if they do not have internet access.

For more advice visit the force’s dedicated dog theft page: https://bit.ly/3iDogWH