Lincolnshire Police seek to reassure public over dog theft fears

Police have moved to reassure the public that dog thefts are 'rare' - releasing figures that show just six cases in Lincolnshire in the last year.

Figures show that there were 12 dog thefts incidents in the county in 2019/20 - with half that amount in 2020/21 to date.

Chief Supt Paul Timmins said: “We understand the devastation a stolen dog can cause. Many of us at Lincolnshire Police are dog owners ourselves. Whilst it is a rare occurrence, it does happen. If it’s something that concerns you, please contact your local policing team who can provide security advice and reassurance.

“Please come to us also with any information you have that could be connected with dog thefts, and continue to report any suspicious activity or individuals in your area. We will investigate and act on information received in order to return dogs to their owners and bring those responsible to justice.”

Officers say dog thieves sometimes look at adverts of pet for sale - and warned against giving away address details in such posts.

The force works with the DogLost voluntary group to help people to be reunited with their pets.Visit www.doglost.co.uk for more information about its work.