Stop in the name of the paw
Pet theft in the UK is at unprecedented levels, with 2,000 dogs stolen each year. Here, pet detective Colin Butcher explains why he’ll go to any lengths to reunite lost animals with their owners
At first glance, Colin Butcher looks like any other dog owner, taking his cocker spaniel Molly for a daily walk. But the pair are actually a crime-busting partership on a mission to reduce the number of pet thefts in the UK.
Since 2003, Colin has helped to shut down more than 100 illegal breeders and fake rescue centres.
And Molly, who joined him three years ago, has helped Colin reunite hundreds of cats and dogs with their owners through his UK Pet Detectives agency.
She has been trained to sniff out individual cats (which tend to have got stuck or lost rather than stolen) and has helped find lots of them. She once detected one in a cavity wall.
Yet it’s not just cats and dogs the dynamic duo rescue.
Their successes have included recovering stolen racehorses, alpacas, parrots, snakes, a hamster, sheep, and pet birds.
But it is the demand for puppies that has created an increase in pet-related crime since lockdown began in March last year.
More than 2,000 dogs are stolen each year across the UK – numbers that rose by 65 per cent in some areas in lockdown, says the Kennel Association.
Worryingly, more than half of stolen dogs are taken from their back gardens – and Colin, a former Surrey police detective, warns pet owners to be vigilant as thieves are even targeting distracted owners when they are out and about.
This rise in dog theft is not surprising. Google searches for “buying a puppy” increased by 175 per cent in just one month of UK lockdown – with registered breeders unable to meet the rise in demand, says Colin.
Now we are back in another lockdown. Police have cracked down on illegal puppy smugglers from Eastern Europe and Ireland, so thieves are turning their attention to other people’s dogs. “Opportunists are targeting places where unsuspecting people might leave their dog,” says Colin. “You get teens riding around on bikes who can easily put an arm through a gap in a car window, wind it down and steal the dog. They are then sold for £500 online.” Parks offer rich pickings too. “Thieves target dog owners who are distracted when checking their phones, getting kids into the car or just wiping mud off their boots,” Colin says. “One person approaches the dog with a treat, then another wraps something like an elastic band around the dog’s mouth. They then chuck it in the back of a van. It takes seconds. “The first person tells the owner they saw their dog run away in a different direction, and they’re off.”
While French bulldogs and Boston terriers are popular breeds, fetching around £3,000 a pup, thieves will steal anything. “Smaller dogs tend to stay closer to their owners so the breeds they snatch are those that run around a lot, like collies, pointers and spaniels,” says Colin.
He says many thieves lurk online, looking for people posting pictures of a new puppy.
Thieves target kennels and breeders too, with many now able to locate the microchip in a dog’s neck and remove it.
“There’s no way of proving the dog is yours after that’s gone,” says Colin.
His agency uses CCTV footage, number plates, insider knowledge and speaking with neighbours to track down pets.
“Last year we weren’t able to do our jobs properly as the police warned me I’d be fined if I made houseto-house enquiries,” says
Colin, explaining how the Covid restrictions have made tracking stolen pooches harder.
In 2018, he recovered 100 animals including some taken by a professional dog walker, and he has recovered more stolen dogs and missing cats than any police force.
Colin advises dog owners to keep their pet on a lead whenever they are returning to or leaving their car.
He also advises not to mix dog walking with other chores, like taking the kids to the park or popping to the shops.
“Thieves are waiting for parents to be distracted by kids or for shoppers to put their trolley back. They want your guard down.”
For more information visit thepetdetectives.com
Thieves can put an arm in a car window gap, wind it down and grab the dog