‘Thieves stole dog from my garden’

POLICE are appealing for witnesses after the theft of a dog from its owner’s garden in Devon.

CCTV footage shows three men going towards a property in Bradninch before seizing Maggie, a 20-month-old French bulldog, and running off.

The dog was taken from the property at Hornbeam Gardens at about 12.30pm on Thursday.

Owner Chloe Jade said her neighbours had spotted the three men acting suspiciously in a nearby alleyway.

Devon and Cornwall Police are investigating the incident and are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

A force spokesperson said: “It was reported that three men jumped over the fence to get to the dog, which is black, brown and white.

“Anyone who was in the area at the time and witnessed any suspicious activity, or has any information, for example CCTV footage, which could assist police enquiries, is asked to contact police on 101, or via email at 101@dc.police.uk quoting crime reference CR/038549/21.”

DogLost, a UK charity that helps victims of dog theft, recorded a 170% increase in the crime from 2019 to 2020, as demand skyrocketed after people sought company during the coronavirus lockdown.

Numbers have now reached such a high level that a taskforce has been set up by the Government to look into tackling it.

In a post shared by more than a thousand people on social media, Chloe wrote: “Stolen dog!!! Three lads jumped my fence in Hornbeam Gardens today and stole my son’s French bulldog.

“We have only just moved here from Birmingham so she must have been being watched.

“Please help. Her name is Maggie. She’s 18 months old and was stolen at 12.30pm today out of my garden.

“We have CCTV just waiting for police. Also, cameras in Spar have been checked as they were seen driving away in a red car.”

> Maggie the French bulldog was stolen from her garden