Criminals are stealing dogs due to the 'hike in prices' and 'demand for puppies' during the coronavirus pandemic.
Nottinghamshire's deputy police and crime commissioner, Emma Foody, is encouraging dog owners across the city to keep a closer eye on their pets.
This comes after a spare of thefts across the country.
She said that although the number of dog thefts reported in Nottinghamshire is relatively small, she is urging pet owners to be 'on their guard' for criminals looking to take advantage of this 'new lucrative market.'
The charity DogLost has seen reports of thefts rise by 170 percent in the past year from 172 dogs in 2019 to 465 dog thefts 2020.
Mrs Foody said: "I’m a dog owner myself and cannot imagine the distress and devastation of losing a beloved pet to the clutches of criminals.
"Thankfully, dog thefts remain rare in Nottinghamshire but when they do happen, it causes a huge deal of pain and fear among the community.
"Where there is opportunity, there is crime and I would urge all dog owners to take extra security measures to protect their pet’s safety.
"Owners should ensure their pets are microchipped, for example, and to check their social media privacy settings before sharing photographs of pets or puppies online as this may attract unwanted attention from criminals.
"I would like to reassure the public these distressing incidents are taken seriously and robustly investigated.
"Anyone with information about suspected dog theft should contact police on 101. In an emergency or live incident, always dial 999."
