Dog theft has soared since March last year when the lockdown led to a sharp rise in the demand for puppies.
The Government’s Pet Theft Task Force has now recommended the act is made a criminal offence in a report published today.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “Stealing a pet is an awful crime which can cause families great emotional distress while callous criminals line their pockets. The new offence of pet abduction acknowledges that animals are far more than just property and will give police an additional tool to bring these sickening individuals to justice.
“At the same time, police will continue to work to raise awareness about how owners can best protect pets from being targeted.”
The offence will be brought in through primary legislation in due course.
The task force’s other recommendations being considered by the Government include improving recording and data collection about these crimes and working with police to raise awareness about preventative measures owners can take.
The report suggests around 2,000 dog theft crimes were reported to police in 2020, causing…
