Sussex Police is taking action to prevent dog theft as soaring prices for pets during lockdown has seen a rise in theft nationally. The Force’s dedicated Rural Crime Team (RCT) is tackling this devastating crime by working closely with partner agencies, gathering intelligence and highlighting crime prevention among the dog owning community.
Reports of dog theft are thankfully relatively low in Sussex but police do ask dog owners to take necessary steps to keep them safe. Sussex Police recorded 31 dog thefts in 2020, but at least 12 of those were disputes over dog ownership between known parties.
The 19 remaining cases include:
Six typical thefts where there is evidence dogs were taken by a third party unknown to the victim
Six cases where it is believed dogs were lost rather than stolen
Three cases where the victim has ceased engaging with police and it is unknown if the dog has been found In
seven cases dogs were recovered after being located nearby or at a vets.
For more information please read the press release below:
