Seven years jail for dognapping offence
‘Pet Abduction’ crime to be created after pet thefts rocket in pandemic
A NEW crackdown on pet thieves means they could face up to seven years in prison for pinching a pooch.
Justice Secretary Robert Buckland is to introduce an offence to deter organised crime from muscling in on a growing trade in stolen animals.
“Dognapping” and other animal thefts have more than doubled during the pandemic.
It comes as prices for legitimate sales of some breeds are shooting up at the rate of 25% every three months, with English Bulldogs now fetching up to £9,000 each.
The average cost of a puppy last year was £1,875, up from £808 in 2019, as lockdowns drove demand.
Ragdoll cats cost from £350 up to £,1800 and a British Blue from £1,200 to £2,000. Certain sub-breeds of Bengals can go for up to £5,000. The boom fuelled a 250% rise in thefts since the pandemic began.
Now Mr Buckland believes the law needs changing as it treats the loss of a beloved animal the same as a stolen TV.
He is to accept a recommendation by the Government’s Pet Theft Taskforce to create an offence of Pet Abduction. That means judges can take into account distress caused to owners as well as the cruelty inflicted on their pets.
A Government source said: “This offence will better reflect that pets are not just property. Having one stolen is traumatic for owner and pet.”
The law – also covering cats and other animals – will be added to the Police and Crime Bill next month. Meanwhile police warn against sharing too much information about pets on social media.
Half of forces report a doubling in dog thefts. Northumbria Police had the largest increase last year, from 27 to 67.