Dog thieves strike six times a day on average, figures reveal.
Research shows an estimated 2,160 dogs were reported stolen in 2022.
American bulldogs were most often targeted, accounting for 90 of the total.
Only one in four dogs were returned to their owners – and the statistics may not reflect the true scale of the problem.
Beverley Cuddy, of Stolen and Missing Pets Alliance, said: “A significant number of cases still go unreported.”
The next most popular targets for dognappers were Staffordshire bull terriers and French bulldogs, with Chihuahuas, German shepherds and Jack Russells also in the top 10.
Leicestershire Police reported the biggest increase in the crime in recent years, up from 24 in 2015 to 75 last year.
There were also increases in the West Midlands and Devon and Cornwall, police forces there revealed.
Charities advise owners to have their pet microchipped and neutered, to maximise the chances of it being returned if stolen, and to remove thieves’ incentive to steal it in the first place. It is thought stolen dogs are often used for breeding.
They may also be stolen to be trained for illegal dog fighting, or sold on as a pet – for around half the price a legitimate breeder would usually charge.
But the total number of dogs stolen last year was down 22% on the year before, the research by Direct Line Pet Insurance discovered. The decrease may be linked to a reduced demand for pet dogs overall, Direct Line says.
It pointed to changes in working patterns post-Covid and a tightening of household budgets because of the cost of living crisis. The charity Dogs Trust says it had 50% more rehoming inquiries in January to November 2022 than in the same period in 2021.
Madeline Pike, a Direct Line vet nurse, said: “Precautions such as not leaving your dog tied up outside a shop, in an empty vehicle or keeping it on the lead when in busy areas, will reduce the likelihood of being targeted.”
* If you think your dog has been stolen, the charity DogLost offers help – see doglost.co.uk.
