| During the past two years, a new crime
has hit England, and sadly Biggin Hill has already being severely
effected. The little-known crime of pet theft is taking on huge proportions
with dozens of pets vanishing in the South-East each week. Thieves
are exploiting the fact that without tangible evidence of a crime,
dogs are often officially classified by the police as ‘missing’,
rather than ‘stolen’, and cats are deemed to have ‘just
strayed’. Because of the lack of police records it is difficult
to establish the true extent of this crime wave, but the estimates
are alarming, and run to thousands per year nationally.
The worst affected areas of the country are believed to be around
junctions of the M25 and M20 motorways, and of course, we fall into
that category. During the past 18 months, the practice staff have
become aware of approximately 15 cases of dog thefts in the Biggin
Hill area. Thefts appear to happen in clusters, with a few dogs
going missing over a 10 day period, and then nothing for a couple
of months. This pattern is consistent with the idea that most thefts
are by small-time, local crooks, who are snatching pets, and then
selling them on to organised national gangs, who visit an area every
few months to do a pick up.
But why are pets being stolen? And who is most at risk?
From the breeds being stolen it would appear that:
- Un-neutered, pure breed dogs are most at risk, which suggest
that they are being used for puppy farming. It is likely that
this applies to cats also;
- Terriers are being used for fighting, and Lurchers for coursing;
- Gundog breeds are sold on to work;
- Smaller breeds are being sold on as pets;
- Any breed can be ransomed back to the original owner. We have
been told of at least two cases where ransoms in excess of £2,000
have been paid for dogs.
This fits well with the breeds which are being stolen most:
Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Beagles, all types of Terriers and
Collies, Rottweilers and Weimeraners. In Biggin Hill and its environs,
Staffies and other Terriers, together with Labradors make up the
highest figures.
To make matters worse, in Biggin Hill the police believe
that they actually know who is responsible for local dog thefts,
but as yet have not been able to prove it.
So what can you do to protect your pet?
- Have your pet identichipped – the cost
is £20, and covers your pet for life. The microchip can
be quickly placed in a routine appointment.
- Ensure that your pet wears a collar with a tag (this
is actually a legal requirement of dog ownership), stating
that it is identichipped, and do not put your pet’s
name on the tag. Thugs do not want to steal an identichipped pet,
as it can be traced back, for the rest of its life.
- Never tie your dog up outside a shop, thieves
can bundle your dog into a car and be away within 10 seconds!
- Do not let young children walk your dog without
a teenager or adult. There have been at least two incidents of
local children being approached by a pair of adults asking if
they can hold the lead, and being threatening.
- Keep your hand through the loop of your dog lead,
so that the lead can not be snatched from you. This was recently
tried on at least one client of the practice.
- Keep your cat in at night.
- Whilst walking your dog off the lead, keep it close
to you, and in full view at all times, this includes
whilst in the park playing with other dogs. Several dogs have
gone missing from local parks over the past couple of years, and
have actually been seen by passers-by being bundled into cars.
- Avoid leaving your dog in the car. A terrier
was snatched from a locked car in Brasted High Street in broad
daylight, whilst the owner walked up the road to post a letter.
Smashing the window, grabbing the dog, and driving off only took
a minute!
- Do not buy puppies or kittens from Pet Shops –
apart from all the health reasons to avoid buying animals from
these sources, you are unwittingly encouraging the trade in puppy
farmed animals. Remember: reputable breeders would not dream of
selling puppies or kittens to a pet shop.
- Do not leave dogs unsupervised in your garden for long
periods – several dogs have been stolen from their
garden, whilst the owners are at home with the back door open.
Some thefts have even taken place from the kitchen, whilst the
owners are elsewhere in the house.
- Organise your own neighbourhood ‘Pet Watch’
for dogs and cats, microchipping and displaying prominent
notices on trees or property, “This is a neighbourhood pet
watch area – all animals are microchipped and details of
suspicious vehicles and individuals will be reported to police”.
It is likely that thieves will start to remove these notices –
if you see this happening, take a description and advise the police.
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