UK’s dognapping hotspots revealed

The highest number of dognapping cases took place in London, with 422 incidents reported to the Metropolitan Police in 2021, up from 318 in 2020, research from pet business insurer Cliverton reveals.

The second-worst area for dog kidnapping was Yorkshire, where police dealt with 199 thefts last year.

In Kent, police reported 182 stolen dog cases in 2021 – a 64% rise on 2020.

Lancashire Constabulary was next on the list, with 116 reported cases, while 100 dog thefts took place in Yorkshire.

In addition, the research reveals French Bulldogs were the most stolen breed, followed by Jack Russells, Chihuahuas, and Pugs.

Cliverton advises that dog walkers should try to stick to safe paths rather than heading off into the countryside and adds that home security cameras are important too to prevent theft.

Lynne Fisher, Marketing and Sales Support Manager at Cliverton, said: “Dognapping is on the rise. In fact, there were 2,760 reported incidents within the UK in 2021.

“That’s the highest number of dognapping cases in the last seven years. These can be sold for a profit, used to breed new dogs, or even used as dog bait.”