Pet theft taskforce to investigate rise in dognapping

The government has launched a new taskforce to investigate the reported rise in pet theft since the first lockdown in March 2020.

Demand for pets has soared during the pandemic, with restrictions forcing millions of people to spend more time at home. The Pet Food Manufacturers Association reported in March 2021 that 3.2 million households in the UK have acquired a pet since the start of the pandemic.

Sadly, the corresponding increase in price for cats and dogs is thought to be linked to a rise in thefts.

Stealing a pet is already a criminal offence under the Theft Act 1968, with offenders facing a maximum penalty of seven years in prison. However, pet theft is not defined as a specific crime, with dogs classed as property under the 1968 legislation.

There have been growing calls for a change in the law to reflect the emotional impact of having a pet stolen.

The new taskforce will gather evidence on the factors that may be contributing to a rise in pet theft and will recommend measures to tackle the problem, drawing on successes in tackling other types of theft, such as mobile phone and metal theft.

To help guard against dognapping, police advise owners to avoid leaving their pet unattended while out in public, vary their routines when walking their dogs, and take basic security steps at home such as checking locks on doors and garden gates.

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