Dog thieves are now targeting bigger and more intimidating breeds – with Rottweilers suffering the highest increase in thefts.
An estimated 1,808 dogs were stolen across the UK last year, according to police figures.
Pedigree Rottweiler puppies can cost up to £2,500, making them a lucrative target for criminals who can sell the dogs on.
With male adult dogs weighing around 55kg and standing about 86cm in height, the breed can prove a deterrent to would-be burglars.
However, dog enthusiasts said the breed’s status as a guard dog was not necessarily fuelling the theft figures.
Beverley Cuddy, editor of Dogs Today magazine and patron of campaign group the Stolen and Missing Pets Alliance, said: “It’s difficult to know what is going through the thieves minds. Sometimes they may have a specific purpose in mind for them.
“Something like a Rottweiler might be sold on as a guard dog.
“Or they might be thinking they will breed them and then abandon them when they are no longer fertile which is why we sometimes see dogs coming back after eight or so years.”
Ms Cuddy added: “The stigma around the breed is certainly calming down a bit but even so, the people doing this must be thinking of the pound signs.”
In contrast, the theft of XL bullies has dropped by 49 per cent following the ban on the breed introduced in England and Wales last February.
An estimated 1,808 dogs were stolen across the UK last year, according to analysis of police data by Direct Line Peet Insurance.
The insurer – which obtained the figures through Freedom of Information (FoI) laws – found French bulldogs were the most likely breed to be stolen in 2024. Some 51 French bulldogs were seized last year, an increase of 38 per cent on 2023 stats.
This breed can cost up to £5,000 when bought from a reputable breeder, making them another attractive option for criminals looking to sell stolen dogs on.
Over the past 10 years, 23,430 dogs have been reported stolen to police, according to FoI requests, with only one in five (5,005 or 21 per cent) being returned.
Last year’s total theft figures showed a 21 per cent drop overall compared to 2023. Despite this, 61 per cent of owners say they are worried about the possibility of their dog being stolen – with 40 per cent saying they would only ever walk their dog on a lead and 17 per cent say they use a tracking device.
Harsher sentences
The Pet Abduction Act came into effect in May last year, making pet theft a criminal offence in England and Northern Ireland, punishable by up to five years in prison, a fine, or both.
And the reduction in thefts may be an early sign that the new law is having a positive impact, a Direct Line spokesman said.
Adam Burgin, head of Direct Line pet insurance, said: “As a nation of pet lovers we hope to continue the downward trend in the number of stolen dogs.
“Our research over the last decade has shown dog theft is a persistent issue and hopefully the Pet Abduction Act 2024 will encourage a change in criminal behaviour in the long term.
“Those who have fallen victim to dog theft will know the intense stress and trauma that comes with having their beloved pet snatched away from them, often with no closure on knowing what happened to a member of their family.”
