Number of reported dog thefts in Surrey 'is not high' say police
Officers say there is still a lot of concern about dog thefts in Surrey
Police say there is still a lot of concern about dog thefts in Surrey.
As the demand for pets soared during lockdown criminals have been using this as an opportunity to make money by stealing dogs to breed or sell on.
The force want to reassure people that there are not a high reported number of thefts or attempted thefts in our county.
But officers have released some top tips on how to keep your pooch safe.
In a post on Facebook Surrey Police said:
"We’re aware that there is still a lot of concern around the number of dog thefts nationally and in Surrey. With this in mind, we wanted to reiterate our key tips for protecting yourself and your dog from theft, and to try and set your mind at ease about the scale of dog thefts in Surrey.
"This is a national issue and not specific to Surrey. It is something that all police forces are aware of and working to tackle, but in Surrey there are not a high reported number of thefts or attempted thefts.
"However, we realise that there may be thefts or attempted thefts which go unreported, and that if this is the case our figures may not be entirely accurate.
"This means that it is vital you report all cases of theft or attempted theft to us.
"We cannot investigate if we do not know about an incident, and we rely on the public to submit reports to us so that we have an accurate picture of the crimes in the area."