Cruel and callous dognappers are using coloured cable ties and ribbons to mark possible Dublin homes of pets next on their list for snatching.
A warning message was sent to residents of the Ballyboughal area last night urging locals to report any suspicious activity or any findings of the pieces of colourful string to Gardai.
The act of tying the ribbons to gates and fences near the homes is a known marking sign for thieves which helps remind them of what houses can potentially be broken into as 'dognapping' continues to escalate in Dublin.
The warning finished by telling people to watch their pets and to keep an eye on their neighbours' too.
It said: "You might like to let people know that coloured cable ties and ribbon has been found tied to gates and fences in the Ballyboughal area.
"This is a known sign for dog thieves to let their accomplices know that a dog is present in the house. Watch your pets and those of your neighbours."
Dognappings have soared by 50% in the past two years, according to official figures from the Department of Justice.
There were 145 reported thefts reported in 2018 before it rocketed to 210 last year.
The figure for this year is set to surpass last year’s total again, with 120 dogs registered as stolen so far halfway through 2020.
The real numbers being taken from doting owners could be far greater as Garda officials explained that it is not always easy to categorise a dog theft.
A spokesman for the Department of Justice said: “I understand that there is no specific code on PULSE for theft of animals.
“The same code is used for all types of theft and it would require the checking of individual records within the Courts Service to separate out theft of animals from other types of theft.”
Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy sought information through a parliamentary question.
She told Dublin Live: “The theft of pets can have a deep and lasting impact.
“For most, a dog or cat is a companion or part of the family.
“The crime is serious enough that it merited advice to be issued by the Garda’s national crime prevention section.
“I’d urge people to take a look at that advice and take heed in particular to the chipping of pets where possible.
“Some stolen animals end up being sold online or into puppy farms so from an animal welfare perspective it’s important to be as proactive as possible in relation to the safety of your pet. The figures revealed to me indicate that this type of crime is on the rise.”
The spokesman for the Department of Justice added: “On July 9, An Garda Siochana appealed to the public to take extra crime prevention measures when it comes to caring for their pets, particularly high-value breeds of dogs, following the reporting of a number of dog thefts in recent months.
“A range of measures for pet safety, recommended by the National Crime Prevention Unit, can be found at: https://www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/office-of-corporate-communications/news-media/dog-theft-crime-prevention-advice.html.”
