TASK FORCE TO BITE CRUEL DOGNAPPERS
Crackdown as cases rise 170%
A PET theft task force is being set up to dish out some ruff justice after cruel dognappings surged by 170% in a year.
Pooch-loving Prime Minister Boris Johnson is taking urgent action after cases rocketed from 172 in 2019 to 465 last year – with high-value breeds in particular being targeted.
Home Office minister Vicky Atkins said anybody who steals pets must be “brought to justice” for their “horrifying” crimes.
A source at No10 added: “There is growing anecdotal evidence that dognappers are taking advantage of the lockdown and we have listened to the concerns from dog owners left scared of walking their pets.”
The new task force will be made up of officials from the Home Office, the Ministry of Justice and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Mr Johnson – who has a Jack Russell-cross called Dilyn with his fiancée Carrie Symonds – has reportedly told officials that “all options” should be considered as they tackle the heartbreaking blight.
Around 270,000 people have signed a petition calling for dog theft to become a specific offence with fines up to £5,000 and a minimum eight years behind bars. And Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne backs calls for pet theft to be categorised separately.
She said: “Police forces across the country need a ‘flag’ for reports of dog theft on their systems, as currently it is extremely difficult to track this crime trend and put in place an appropriate police response.”
A survey of 124,000 people in Sussex found that 65% were scared to walk their dogs during the day.
And 20% suffered a pet being stolen or knew of someone who had.