Police warn dog owners to be vigilant as gangs target pets in Hampshire

Organised gangs stealing dogs in Hampshire Organised gangs stealing dogs in Hampshire

AN organised gang of criminals are targeting pet dogs across Hampshire, a senior police officer has warned.

Three cocker spaniels have been stolen in the central Hampshire area in the last seven days.

Around 3am on December 31, cocker spaniels Tia and Maisie were taken from kennels in Owslebury while a day earlier, black and white pet dog Jarvis was taken from his home in Bullington.

It follows two incidents in December – one in Holbury, where two English springer spaniels were stolen and another in Thornhill where the owners were offered a ransom for their dog’s safe return.

Men have also been seen behaving suspiciously near properties at Beauworth and Ovington, near Alresford.

Ch Insp Simon Dodds said: “There appears to be a group of organised individuals out there specifically targeting working dogs.

“We’ve had some really useful information come into us from members of the public and we would urge them to continue doing so. We would ask people to be extra vigilant and also use common sense if you are buying a dog.

“Ensure the dog is micro-chipped, visit them in their home environment and check its history very carefully, otherwise you might be buying stolen property unwittingly."

Dog rescue group DogLost police co-ordinator Jane Franklin said: “Working dogs are a valuable commodity; they're trained and expensive breeds and can change hands for around £1,500.”

Comments(14)

David Icke says...
3:03pm Sun 6 Jan 13

Love the advert!

nedscrumpo says...
7:01pm Sun 6 Jan 13

Brite Spark wrote:
Horrible bad breathed hairy smelly crappy dangerous things.
..and that's just the missus!

The Wickham Man says...
7:03pm Sun 6 Jan 13

So the police have had some really useful information which they aren't going to share with anyone - in other words they aren't going to get any more "really useful information" until after the next crime has been committed are they. Good old modern policing - makes you realise what the police actually think of the public they are supposed to serve. This is also why they lock themselves in their police stations - so they can decide who and when to actually see the public rather than allow the public to actually come and see them.

Rocket 1 says...
7:38pm Sun 6 Jan 13

nedscrumpo wrote:
Brite Spark wrote:
Horrible bad breathed hairy smelly crappy dangerous things.
..and that's just the missus!
No that is Brite Spark ( what a Twonk he is )

Crystaltps says...
8:08pm Sun 6 Jan 13

This is very tragic for the owners, please help if you can either via Twitter @findourdogs or Facebook/Find Our Dogs. There is a reward for the safe return of both dogs

derek james says...
9:38pm Sun 6 Jan 13

AD1234 wrote:
Why would anyone choose to live with a filthy canine (or feline, come to think of it)?

Then there's the cost of keeping the thing - food and vet's bills. These animal-keepers sure ain't short of cash.

The thieves have done you a favour.
i think if you read the report the dogs live in kennels, probably at the end of a large garden so they don't exactly" live" with owners, actually dogs are very useful to mankind there are sniffer dogs for detecting drugs and explosives on aircraft, guide dogs for the blind and deaf, dogs that can summon help for diabetics and detect cancer and there's no burglar alarm to touch a decent guard dog,for a lot of elderly folk there dog is their only company. in short dogs are probably the most the most useful creatures to mankind , the same can't be said for a lot of humans

AD1234 says...
10:10pm Sun 6 Jan 13

Good point, Derek, but you're talking about a small minority of dogs.

Most are simply 'house-dogs'; usually untrained and out of control. Those are the dogs I dislike, and those are the owners I cannot understand.

Working dogs are admirable, but why would you live in the same abode as a germ-covered, expensive, and unproductive animal?

I guess my opinion is coloured by my severe childhood asthma, which 'miraculously' cleared up when the family dog died. Years later, a GP friend told me that much childhood illness is caused by allergic reactions to family dogs and cats.

I am amazed that people give them house-space.

hulla baloo says...
10:09am Mon 7 Jan 13

AD1234 wrote:
Why would anyone choose to live with a filthy canine (or feline, come to think of it)?

Then there's the cost of keeping the thing - food and vet's bills. These animal-keepers sure ain't short of cash.

The thieves have done you a favour.
Probably a lot cheaper and more loyal than many human partners.

sarfhamton says...
10:45am Mon 7 Jan 13

nedscrumpo wrote:
check all chinese and Indian restaurants; terrieraki; puppydoms, curried collieflower; etc
What a stupid comment, if you sell a dog for a couple of grand why would you put it in a curry?

user12 says...
11:29am Mon 7 Jan 13

Have to agree Hulla Balloo - And with some of these comments i'd rather give house space & spend my time with a loyal trusting animal anyday..!!

user12 says...
11:29am Mon 7 Jan 13

Have to agree Hulla Balloo - And with some of these comments i'd rather give house space & spend my time with a loyal trusting animal anyday..!!

mickey01 says...
7:05pm Mon 7 Jan 13

they should pop to st marys its full of dogs there

polly777 says...
4:08pm Wed 9 Jan 13

what a shame that the valuable comments fac ility has been taken over by the great uneducated.
If you don't like dogs that's fine but don't show your ignorance by calling them names and inferring that people who live with dogs are idiots.
They may cause asthma in a small minority of people but for many millions of others they provide a loyal friend who will never let you down,never care what you look like or whether you are fat or thin, never criticise, will defend you to the death and love you regardless. They prevent heart desease and calm stress. These are proven medic al facts.
I actually feel extremely sad for anyone who has never experienced the pure joy & love a dog brings and my heart goes out to the owners of these stolen pets. It's about time the police & authority took this seriously and spent more time on crimes against people and less time on car speeding etc.

polly777 says...
4:08pm Wed 9 Jan 13

what a shame that the valuable comments fac ility has been taken over by the great uneducated.
If you don't like dogs that's fine but don't show your ignorance by calling them names and inferring that people who live with dogs are idiots.
They may cause asthma in a small minority of people but for many millions of others they provide a loyal friend who will never let you down,never care what you look like or whether you are fat or thin, never criticise, will defend you to the death and love you regardless. They prevent heart desease and calm stress. These are proven medical facts.
I actually feel extremely sad for anyone who has never experienced the pure joy & love a dog brings and my heart goes out to the owners of these stolen pets. It's about time the police & authority took this seriously and spent more time on crimes against people and less time on car speeding etc.

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