South Yorkshire Police have asked people to come forward regarding an incident in Richmond where a litter was taken from the owner.
The puppies, three male and one female, are of no specific breed and were only four weeks old when stolen.
Two masked men entered the home on Smelter Wood Road on February 22nd while the owner was asleep. When confronted, the robbers threatened the man with a knife.
This comes just a few weeks after three dogs were stolen at gunpoint elsewhere in Sheffield. The number of violent dog nappings in South Yorkshire and across the UK is rising and becoming a cause for concern.
The database for the National Pet Register currently shows 928 dogs as missing, although the list is not complete and not all of them would have been stolen.
Statistics given to the BBC by the charity DogLost stated that reported thefts rose from ‘172 dogs in 2019 to 465 in 2020’.
The number of dogs reported stolen in 2019 and 2020 (according to DogLost)
Janey Howarth, 56, was a victim of a similar crime when her eight month old Bullmastiff was stolen from the garden of her home in Grimesthorpe.
Janey Howarth, 56, owner.
Molly the Bullmastiff, stolen.
Molly, who would now be nearly a year old, was taken in November 2020. Ms. Howarth described Molly as her companion said: “I was angry at first when I realised she’d been stolen, but it’s just heartbreaking. I cry every day for her”.
The Sheffield single mother warns other owners to never let their dogs out of their sight.
Detective Chief Inspector Jamie Henderson of South Yorkshire Police also had advice for owners, saying: “Ensure your garden or yard is secure. Check it regularly for wear and tear or gaps. It should keep your dog in and trespassers out.”
He went on to state his belief of why there has been a worrying rise in these cases. He added: “Dog thefts can often be linked to organised crime groups as a way of making money. Stolen pedigree breeds can sell for thousands of pounds, and with more people working from home at the moment the demand for dogs has increased.”
If you have any information about these four puppies, call police on 101 and quote crime reference number 14/33654/21.
Featured Image provided by South Yorkshire Police.