the uk and ireland. this is the story of molly, one of those stolen dogs, and the fight to bring her back home. i would actually rather know that she was dead than to imagine the sort of people that she is with right now. fix, she is with right now. a two—year—old. she is with right now. a two-year-old. it - she is with right now. a two-year-old. it is - she is with right now. a two-year-old. it is the | she is with right now. a - two-year-old. it is the smell that gets _ two-year-old. it is the smell that gets you _ two-year-old. it is the smell that gets you first _ two-year-old. it is the smell that gets you first and - two-year-old. it is the smell that gets you first and then l that gets you first and then hundreds_ that gets you first and then hundreds of— that gets you first and then hundreds of these - that gets you first and then hundreds of these eyes - that gets you first and then - hundreds of these eyes looking back_ hundreds of these eyes looking back at— hundreds of these eyes looking back at you _ hundreds of these eyes looking back at you i— hundreds of these eyes looking back at yam— hundreds of these eyes looking back at you. i have seen people takin: back at you. i have seen people taking photographs _ back at you. i have seen people taking photographs of- back at you. i have seen people taking photographs of dogs. - back at you. i have seen people taking photographs of dogs. i i taking photographs of dogs. i guarantee that i can on dog for sale pages and see those pictures. sale pages and see those pictures-_ sale pages and see those ictures. , ., , , pictures. only a very, very small percentage - pictures. only a very, very small percentage of - pictures. only a very, very| small percentage of people pictures. only a very, very - small percentage of people are actually — small percentage of people are actually prosecuted for this. she still_ actually prosecuted for this. she still has love to give them still has faith in _ she still has love to give them still has faith in the _ she still has love to give them still has faith in the human - still has faith in the human race~ — still has faith in the human race. ~ . �* still has faith in the human race. . �* race. we haven't stopped fi . htin . race. we haven't stopped fighting for _ race. we haven't stopped fighting for even - race. we haven't stopped fighting for even a - race. we haven't stopped fighting for even a single | race. we haven't stopped - fighting for even a single day, and we never will. one of my favourite things that i remember about molly is that shejust had so much i remember about molly is that she just had so much love inside herfor all of us. she isjust so lovable inside herfor all of us. she is just so lovable and kind. the last photo that i took of molly, onlyjust stood there behind the flowers in those photos, she really looks like she is smiling. those are the last photos i took of her. the evening that molly was stolen, we had our back door open. the two dogs were out there, millie and molly. millie came back and there was no sign of molly. ten minutes passed, then 20 minutes, and i was still calling her, like, iwas shouting at the top of my lungs at this point. there was just no sign, so we started to walk the roads and we also took the cars out, drove around, locally, up to the village. it was midnight then that we rang the guards and reported molly as missing we suspected her as stolen. she possibly wasjust picked up. thrown in the boat, closed it down. she is in darkness from that point. then when it opens up that point. then when it opens up again, she has no idea where she is or who she is with. she is being handed over on a rope. her collar is... we don't know where. it has been removed at that point. you feel sick and you panic. i said to my man, i would actually rather know that she was dead than to imagine the sort of people that she is with right now. you would rather go out onto your road and see that someone had knocked your dog down, you'd rather know that they had lived their life and that they had the most amazing time with her family who love them and adore them and then they are gone. you would rather know that. something we have talked about quite _ something we have talked about quite a _ something we have talked about quite a bit on this programme in recent— quite a bit on this programme in recent weeks is the rise in dog — in recent weeks is the rise in dog theft _ in recent weeks is the rise in dog theft during the pandemic. gangs — dog theft during the pandemic. gangs are involved now, the prices — gangs are involved now, the prices of— gangs are involved now, the prices of these _ gangs are involved now, the prices of these animals - gangs are involved now, thej prices of these animals have risen — prices of these animals have risen 5000, _ prices of these animals have risen 5000, £10,000 - prices of these animals have risen 5000, £10,000 a - prices of these animals have i risen 5000, £10,000 a time, prices of these animals have - risen 5000, £10,000 a time, or a dog _ risen 5000, £10,000 a time, or a dog gangs _ risen 5000, £10,000 a time, or a dog gangs are— risen 5000, £10,000 a time, or a dog. gangs are violent, - a dog. gangs are violent, constituents _ a dog. gangs are violent, constituents knocked - a dog. gangs are violent, constituents knocked to i a dog. gangs are violent, . constituents knocked to the ground, _ constituents knocked to the ground, beaten, _ constituents knocked to the ground, beaten, stabbed, i ground, beaten, stabbed, threats— ground, beaten, stabbed, threats to _ ground, beaten, stabbed, threats to their— ground, beaten, stabbed, threats to their home - ground, beaten, stabbed, threats to their home and | threats to their home and families _ within less than 12 hours, we had pretty much an entire campaign going. by the following morning, we had created the first poster and we were going door—to—door as well in different places. that next day after molly was stolen, we created the actual bring molly home facebook page to post every day of make it hot, that is what everyone says to do, may go to handle. someone will dump her because they won't be able to sell her if everyone knows she is a stolen dog stop we miss you, molly. we miss you so very much. you are nothing short of the best, best girl, and we love you. we hope you are ok for now. please don't forget us and never think we have given up on you. a week after molly was stolen, i received a message on the facebook page from a person who remains anonymous. who said, can you ring me? i know who stole your dog. we call the guards straightaway with that. the irish police. when we were given information about a certain location she had passed through, the next morning, the guards were at the property. cctv, which has been watched by the guards, she is being seen being passed on from one person to the next. within 12 hours of being stolen, she had been sold twice already. i have been working for about 25 years — i have been working for about 25 years for law enforcement. we are taking this facial data, this tracking, this view in 3d and — this tracking, this view in 3d and transmitting that over to our entirely new virtual avatar~ _ our entirely new virtual avatar. both myself and other people — avatar. both myself and other people connected to the investigation have received death— investigation have received death threats, so it is important that we retain our anonymity for the protection of both— anonymity for the protection of both our— anonymity for the protection of both our families and ourselves. demand for puppies weut— ourselves. demand for puppies went through the roof. the type of guys — went through the roof. the type of guys we are investigating began — of guys we are investigating began to look at any method they— began to look at any method they could for obtaining puppies. one of the easiest ways— puppies. one of the easiest ways to _ puppies. one of the easiest ways to obtain puppies quickly is to— ways to obtain puppies quickly is to obtain, and the quickest way— is to obtain, and the quickest way to— is to obtain, and the quickest way to do— is to obtain, and the quickest way to do that is to steal it. naturally, dog will have one, possibly— naturally, dog will have one, possibly two letters a year or so however, because of the demand, _ so however, because of the demand, they need more letters a year~ _ demand, they need more letters a year~ so— demand, they need more letters a year. so they pump the animals— a year. so they pump the animals full of her minds —— hormones, _ animals full of her minds —— hormones, it is literally letter _ hormones, it is literally letter after letter after letter. it does terrible things to the — letter. it does terrible things to the animals in that process -- litter~ _ to the animals in that process -- litter-— -- litter. all i saw in front of me was _ -- litter. all i saw in front of me was this _ -- litter. all i saw in front of me was this beautiful, | of me was this beautiful, broken dog. she smelt disgusting, she was covered in faeces, you're in, she has a skin tumour on her side which was severely infected. i would say that she has definitely been used for breeding, which is what happens with so many of these dogs used for moneymaking machines. as she has already got stronger, her personality is coming out now. she still has love to give and still has faith in the human race, which is even more heartbreaking, that we can use, abuse and dump and they still forgive us and they still want to love us. nobody is enforcing the laws that we _ nobody is enforcing the laws that we have, and the laws that we have — that we have, and the laws that we have a — that we have, and the laws that we have a so weak anyway. the police _ we have a so weak anyway. the police need to much notice, the authorities need to much notice _ authorities need to much notice. nobody wants to know. they— notice. nobody wants to know. theyiust — notice. nobody wants to know. theyjust keep passing the buck, _ theyjust keep passing the buck, and somebody has got to stand _ buck, and somebody has got to stand up. — buck, and somebody has got to stand up, take responsibility and do — stand up, take responsibility and do something about it. you look— and do something about it. you look at — and do something about it. you look at a — and do something about it. you look at a map and work out the best— look at a map and work out the best way— look at a map and work out the best way to get into that site safely. — best way to get into that site safely, climbing through hedges, swimming across water, whatever— hedges, swimming across water, whatever you have to do to locate _ whatever you have to do to locate those animals. usually your— locate those animals. usually your heart is in your mouth because _ your heart is in your mouth because you have got to be so alert _ because you have got to be so alert about what is going on because _ alert about what is going on because at any minute you could because at any minute you could he in _ because at any minute you could he in a _ because at any minute you could he in a lot— because at any minute you could be in a lot of danger. it is the smell that gets you first, — it is the smell that gets you first, and _ it is the smell that gets you first, and then hundreds of these _ first, and then hundreds of these either looking back at you — these either looking back at you. some of the animals, they are iri— you. some of the animals, they are in a — you. some of the animals, they are in a terrible state, matted codes, — are in a terrible state, matted codes, you _ are in a terrible state, matted codes, you can hardly see what hreeds— codes, you can hardly see what breeds they are sometimes. when cages— breeds they are sometimes. when cages are — breeds they are sometimes. when cages are on top of each other, then— cages are on top of each other, then the — cages are on top of each other, then the faeces and the year in will drip— then the faeces and the year in will drip down from one page into— will drip down from one page into another cage. some of them are sort— into another cage. some of them are sort of— into another cage. some of them are sort of scrabbling at the cage — are sort of scrabbling at the cage and _ are sort of scrabbling at the cage and standing up with their paws— cage and standing up with their paws on— cage and standing up with their paws on the cage. kill your then we are going to kill your do- then we are going to kill your dog stop _ then we are going to kill your dog stop you just wait and pray that it — dog stop you just wait and pray that it all— dog stop you just wait and pray that it all goes to plan. and nohody— that it all goes to plan. and nobody gets hurt. and that you -et nobody gets hurt. and that you get the — nobody gets hurt. and that you get the dog back. i always say, take _ get the dog back. i always say, take a — get the dog back. i always say, take a slip _ get the dog back. i always say, take a slip lead you, through the slip— take a slip lead you, through the slip lead over the dog as quick— the slip lead over the dog as quick as _ the slip lead over the dog as quick as you can, give them the money— quick as you can, give them the money and _ quick as you can, give them the money and just get out of there _ money and just get out of there i_ money and just get out of there. i know people that have remortgage their houses and they— remortgage their houses and they have taken out loans. i can't — they have taken out loans. i can't tell— they have taken out loans. i can't tell you how it feels when _ can't tell you how it feels when it _ can't tell you how it feels when it works. you see the owner _ when it works. you see the owner in _ when it works. you see the owner in floods of tears. i am usually— owner in floods of tears. i am usually in _ owner in floods of tears. i am usually in floods of tears. it is amazing. we shouldn't have to he — is amazing. we shouldn't have to be doing that. we received further anonymous call that information suggested that molly had been moved to the uk. i wasjust furious. all the uk. i wasjust furious. all the work that we have put in wasn't enough because it happens so fast. he runs r&r transport services, and richie — he runs r&r transport services, and richie is responsible for transporting a number of animals— transporting a number of animals across the irish sea illicitly _ i have lived here for many years. i dread having to go that way. i have seen that laurie there on numerous occasions. for quite some time he has been visiting that place. —— lorry. this one particular time i happen to be driving past. there was a man and a lady, and they had a cage and a lady, and they had a cage and in this cage there was a pug and in this cage there was a pug and another dog, a terrier typer pug and another dog, a terrier type, i think it was. and they took the cage to the doggy door and they were feeding the dogs into the laurie. —— lorry. a dog, who i believe was molly, was on the back of a cart. the more i look at the picture of molly and the more i remember this dog, and i would say yes, it was molly on the back of that card. i have seen dogs come out of their with awful wounds. i have seen a dog and she had cigarette burns cars all down her neck and down her back. she was in a really bad way. —— burn scars. i have seen a dog come out of their where it has lost the top of its tail and there was blood coming out of it. i have seen many, many dogs come out of there. beaches, with their teeth —— teats are driving on the floor, where they have been bred and braden brad it really breaks your heart. nobody wants to see that, nobody wants to witnesses. —— bread and bread. however it is trust in your face because nobody is doing anything about it. —— thrust. i have seen people taking photographs of dogs. i guarantee that i can look on dog for sale pages and see those pictures. the guard contacted the uk police — the guard contacted the uk police in _ the guard contacted the uk police in the area, with what info — police in the area, with what info they— police in the area, with what info they had, it wasn't enough to search — info they had, it wasn't enough to search any property about time — to search any property about time. nothing came from that, and we — time. nothing came from that, and we were lost from that point _ the reality is, you can watch these crimes happening from your own bedroom.— your own bedroom. springer manager- — your own bedroom. springer manager- l _ your own bedroom. springer manager. i have _ your own bedroom. springer manager. i have seen - your own bedroom. springerj manager. i have seen videos your own bedroom. springer i manager. i have seen videos of multile manager. i have seen videos of multiple men _ manager. i have seen videos of multiple men optioning - manager. i have seen videos of multiple men optioning a - manager. i have seen videos of multiple men optioning a dog l multiple men optioning a dog and she is sitting in the middle of them.- and she is sitting in the middle of them. what do you reckon of _ middle of them. what do you reckon of her? _ middle of them. what do you reckon of her? and _ middle of them. what do you reckon of her? and they - middle of them. what do you reckon of her? and they are l reckon of her? and they are shinin: reckon of her? and they are shining torches _ reckon of her? and they are shining torches on - reckon of her? and they are shining torches on her, - shining torches on her, flashing over her eyes and making a pitch for her sale. it is really horrendous. there is numerous facebook groups which are solely used for buying and selling dogs. any registered or licensed breeder would not be selling on facebook. these groups are ongoing continuously, and there is nobody monitoring them. the magnitude isjust nobody monitoring them. the magnitude is just massive. every time i login online there is more posts. we often see as well, comments from people who say "i checked molly's page every single day just to see if she is home". "i have never cried so much over a dog that i've never met, i hope you get her home soon." molly's story has just grown so big that i don't know what is going to happen when we finally get to happen when we finally get to tell people that she is back. i think is going to be insane. people want to come and meet her, we will have to do a kind of drive—by meet and greet molly at the gate, i think. it was actually one of the girls who was on our molly team was looking on websites to see if she could find different stolen dogs. that is how they are often spotted, in ads for sale. since december 2019, i would since december 2019, iwould estimate _ since december 2019, iwould estimate i have looked at between 10— 20,000 adverts. the adverts _ between 10— 20,000 adverts. the adverts have been designed, have — adverts have been designed, have been engineered to target your heartstrings and from the very— your heartstrings and from the very first — your heartstrings and from the very first sentence, it evokes the image of a wholesome pat. animals — the image of a wholesome pat. animals that are well looked after. — animals that are well looked after, but when you scratch the surface — after, but when you scratch the surface there is any legal and illicit— surface there is any legal and illicit trade. the amounts of money— illicit trade. the amounts of money involved in this our eye waterinq _ money involved in this our eye watering. the awards you can -et watering. the awards you can get from _ watering. the awards you can get from a litter of puppies run on _ get from a litter of puppies run on average between £20,000 - £30,000 _ run on average between £20,000 — £30,000 a litter. if you are prosecuted for breeding illicitly, and you are likely— breeding illicitly, and you are likely to _ breeding illicitly, and you are likely to get a very low level fine — likely to get a very low level fine so— likely to get a very low level fine. so we are looking at between £5 — £750. and of course _ between £5 — £750. and of course a _ between £5 — £750. and of course a very small percentages of people — course a very small percentages of people are actually prosecuted for this. very few people are caught stealing dogs. and very few people are charged. and when they are charged, they get very minimal sentences. they are charged, they get very minimalsentences. my they are charged, they get very minimal sentences. my chocolate labrador, if he were stolen it would be treated in much the same way as a laptop. an object that has been taken. the fact that has been taken. the fact that they are sentience, that they are companions, but they are family members has not been taken into consideration whatsoever. it needs to be taken more seriously by the police, by the courts, by the politicians that have the opportunity to change the laws. it is literally pandora's box and we have only scratched the surface. i think the pandemic may be exacerbated, but prior to that they had already secured their marketplace. the people we are dealing with a highly organised, and hyper— mobile. there needs to be far more investigators looking at this, there needs to be more interaction between the agencies. and until we do that this problem is not going to go away. i don't know howl i don't know how i feel about it. i don't know how i feel about it we — i don't know how i feel about it. we still are without molly, so to — it. we still are without molly, so to he — it. we still are without molly, so to be honest, all we really care — so to be honest, all we really care about is getting her home. no-one — care about is getting her home. no-one is — care about is getting her home. no—one is saying that that is justice. _ no—one is saying that that is justice, you know. this is the victim — justice, you know. this is the victim impact statement that i had written to be read in court _ had written to be read in court. "molly's theft has affected each of us in different ways. from anxiety and paranoia to sleep deprivation, recurring nightmares, and most of all, qrief" — nightmares, and most of all, grief." "we have had our hopes raised — grief." "we have had our hopes raised up — grief." "we have had our hopes raised up and then chatted on more — raised up and then chatted on more than one occasion by people _ more than one occasion by people who have falsely claimed to have — people who have falsely claimed to have molly. —— shattered. we have _ to have molly. —— shattered. we have had — to have molly. —— shattered. we have had countless sleepless nights — have had countless sleepless nights due to regular intrusive thoughts about their conditions molly— thoughts about their conditions molly might be kept in now. when — molly might be kept in now. when we finally do get to sleep. _ when we finally do get to sleep, the nightmares insular. these — sleep, the nightmares insular. these are _ sleep, the nightmares insular. these are mainly dreams, in which — these are mainly dreams, in which we _ these are mainly dreams, in which we eventually find molly. cries — which we eventually find molly. cries. only to be jolted awake with the — cries. only to be jolted awake with the dreadful reminder that this is— with the dreadful reminder that this is really not the case. she — this is really not the case. she is— this is really not the case. she is still missing. " molly! molly! say hi! are you having — molly! molly! say hi! are you having a _ molly! molly! say hi! are you having a great time? good girl. millie, — having a great time? good girl. millie, you _ having a great time? good girl. millie, you having a nice time? i actually had a dream last night. i remember in the dream being with molly, and i think i brought her to meet my mother, mum hadn't seen her yet, but she was back. she was saying, "it's not real", and i was saying, "no, it's definitely real, it's way more real than the dreams where i feel like she is home". and then i woke up she is home". and then i woke up and i was like... here we go again. up and i was like... here we go aaain. , , ., again. hey molly! you getting all the pets? _ again. hey molly! you getting all the pets? all _ again. hey molly! you getting all the pets? all the - again. hey molly! you getting all the pets? all the pretty i all the pets? all the pretty pets? _ all the pets? all the pretty pets? 0h, molly! 0h, molly. hello. well, earlier, the skies were clear and we had a touch of frost, even some icy patches in places after the recent wintry weather. but now, a weather front is approaching, and the first half of saturday at least will be very wet and windy. here's the low pressure that's sweeping into the uk, here's the weather front, and this is rain—bearing cloud, so if the rain hasn't reached you already, it will do very soon. ahead of this weather front, there's some temporary snow falling across the highlands of scotland, but for many of us, it really is rain. and the rain will be heavy, it'll bring also very blustery weather by the end of the night to many western parts of the uk. and look at the temperatures — eight degrees in belfast, double figures in the south—west, just around freezing or above across eastern parts of the country. so here's that low pressure around early saturday. within it, we've got milder air. you can see the milder winds coming in from the south. behind the cold front, yes, there's slightly colder weather, but not as cold compared to what we've been having in the last few days. so, here's that wet and windy weather for the first half of saturday. later, notice that the skies clear. there will be frequent blustery showers, some will again be wintry, particularly across the highlands, but for many of us, it is rain. it will feel chilly in the wind, but notice that rain really dragging its heels around east anglia and the south—east. it may not clear the south—east until after dark, so here, it really will be an unpleasant day. come the evening, i think saturday night into sunday, things will start to dry out. here's the good news — saturday night into sunday, the weather will calm down, which means that on sunday, it will be a much better day. better — there still will be some showers around, particularly across northern areas, and in fact, we are expecting later on sunday some damp weather to move into south—western parts of england and maybe wales. but on the whole, it's a much better day, much drier and brighter for many of us, with temperatures around the average for the time of the year. so, here's the weekend summary again. you can see that wet weather earlier in the day on saturday, much better by sunday, and thereafter, it is turning milder. bye— bye. welcome to bbc news. i'm simon pusey. of georgia are given life sentences. the family said they never lost faith in justice. i knew that we would come out with a victory. ves. — i never doubted it. and i knew that today would come.