One dog, three-year-old sprocker spaniel Ted, was taken in December while being walked in South London
Police have warned animal lovers against carrying weapons to fight off dognappers as a survey reveals eight in ten owners are growing more fearful of taking their pets for a walk.
Demand for dogs during the Covid-19 crisis has triggered a reported 170 per cent rise in thefts across the country in the past year, with some breeds fetching up to £4,000 each – four times their pre-pandemic price.
A stolen dog can be used to produce litters that earn breeders tens of thousands of pounds. Thieves, including organised gangs, have targeted owners in their homes, gardens or even during walks.