East Riding residents urged to remain vigilant over dog thefts
Humberside Police are urging people to remain vigilant about dog thefts in the East Riding.
Humberside Police are urging people to remain vigilant about dog thefts in the East Riding.
It is after a number of social media posts about puppies being stolen has sparked fears from pet owners.
Officers say the number of reported dog thefts is low but people should continue to report any suspicious activity.
Sergeant Jenna Jones, who is from the East Riding Rural Task Force, said:
"What we have seen is that the price of puppies and dogs have increased, and I think that's down to the fact that people are looking to have dogs while they've been in lockdown as companions. Unfortunately people are looking at that as a way to make money and that's given rise to puppy farms.
"If you have a family dog make sure your garden is secure, your property access is secure as possible and keep an eye on your dog while they're in the garden. Obviously most responsible pet owners will do this already but make sure your pet is microchipped and all your details are up to-date.
"Most pet owners will have loads of photographs of their dogs. I'm a dog owner and I have loads of photos of my dogs but should the worst happen and your dog does escape or is stolen, photographs with identifying marks are really helpful when we're trying to investigate dog thefts.
"When you're out walking try and vary your route because it's good for the dog and it's good for ourselves, and obviously if people are watching you've got a varied route so you're not doing the same thing every day. Avoid leaving your dog tied up outside of shops or in your vehicle unattended.
"We haven't seen a rise in dog thefts. I think we've seen a rise in people being more vigilant and more aware because of the social media side, and that's really good because we want people to be aware. If they do see something suspicious, ring Humberside Police and we'll investigate it."
If you see anything suspicous please report your concerns on 101.
People are also being encouraged to join their local dog community Facebook pages as the power of social media can really help when a dog goes missing to reunite them with their owners.