Here’s a strong warning to all of you Londoners living with dogs. Be on the lookout for thieves targeting furbabies, especially Staffordshire Bull Terriers!

Thanks to Telegraph.co.uk for this article.

Report shows 74pc rise in dog theft
By Richard Alleyne

Criminals stealing Staffordshire bull terriers to guard their ill-gotten gains may be behind a dramatic rise in dog thefts, a report claimed today.

The Metropolitan Police document shows a 74 per cent rise in stolen dogs across the London area last year, from 239 to 417, with many taken as puppies.

Staffordshire bull terriers made up 56 per cent of all those taken.

The report, released under the Freedom of Information Act, says some thieves may be using the Staffordshire bull terriers to guard their criminal assets.

The worst areas for the thefts in London have been Croydon, Bromley, Greenwich, Haringey, Lambeth and Hackney.

The report goes on to recommend further research into why Staffordshire bull terriers are so heavily targeted.

It states: There is the possibility that such dogs could be used by criminals such as drug dealers or stolen property handlers to protect their criminal assets at various locations including homes, outbuildings or cars.

The police document notes that thefts of dogs from peoples homes seems to occur when they have advertised dogs, particularly puppies, for sale.

This can often result in several dogs being stolen at once.

Dogs have also been stolen from locked cars and from pet shops.

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