A dog stolen from a farm has been safely returned to its owner after a veicle led police on a late night pursuit.
Nottinghamshire Police was informed that a vehicle suspected to be carrying a stolen Springer Spaniel had been driven into the Newark area at around 11.40pm on Wednesday, March 3.
The dog had been taken from a farm in Halloton, Leicestershire, at around 10.15pm the same night.
Police tracked down the suspects in a vehicle which failed to stop for officers from Lincolnshire firearms unit, before a pursuit took place.
The vehicle was followed through Newark before being abandoned in Besthorpe.
The stolen dog was located nearby unharmed.
A thorough area search was conducted involving firearms, dog units and the Newark response team but the offenders were not located.
Leicestershire Police are now carrying out enquiries, including in connection to the abandoned vehicle, in a bid to establish who was behind the attack.
Chief Superintendent Rob Griffin, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "We're taking dog thefts extremely seriously, especially at this current time when there appears to have been a rise in these crimes nationally.
"This incident shows how we work collaboratively with our colleagues across a wide area to track down any suspect and reach a positive conclusion for our victims.
"I'm glad that the dog was unharmed and that we were able to return him safely to his owner within two hours of being stolen."
Jon Shield, Detective Chief Inspector at Lincolnshire Police, added: “This shows cross boarder collaboration at its best and we are proud to have played a part in getting the dog home safe.”
Detective Inspector Charles Edwards, from the South Leicester, Market Harborough and Wigston CID said: “Our officers are currently investigating an incident where a dog was taken from a farm in Hallaton at around 10pm yesterday (Wednesday 3 March).
“It was reported that a vehicle had driven onto the farm and the occupants took the dog before making off.
“We were later informed the vehicle had been involved in a pursuit in Nottinghamshire, before being abandoned. We were informed the dog was found inside it has since been returned to its owner.
“Our enquiries into the incident are ongoing and we would ask anyone with information to contact us, quoting reference 21*123644.”
