Dog thefts on the increase?
There has always been a trickle of reports of attempted dog thefts. Dogs seem quite often to be allowed to stray or escape and in some cases where theft is alleged, the dog is found soon afterwards, not far from home.
Social media activity on this subject has increased in the last few weeks with claims of intruders in gardens when dogs have been allowed out unsupervised, sometimes after dark, and an attempt to lure a dog away while a person engaged the dog walker in conversation (near Newmarket).
More specifically, a recently re-opened boarding kennels at Barton Mills had 17 dogs stolen one night.
It may be that lockdown-initiated demand for pet dogs has stimulated the 'puppy-farming' breeders to increase their breeding stock.
Please encourage anyone looking to acquire a dog to approach the matter responsibly. For instance, they might insist on having its chip read (eg by a vet) before taking the dog on. If buying a puppy, be sure to see the mother at her home base. Puppy farmers will sometimes show buyers the mother and litter in poor conditions relying on the sympathy of the buyer to buy the puppy to save it from the situation (and because of the time the breeder has taken to show the dog to the potential buyer): this just encourages the breeder.
A black 4x4 with spare wheel mounted on the back door is thought to be linked to this activity.