Spate Of Dognappings By Burglars

[samoyedman]

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/police-issue-warning-to-dog-owners-after-spate-of-dog-nappings-by-home-burglars/story-fni0cx12-1226875080516

POLICE have issued a warning to Sydney’s dog owners — your pets are now as valuable as jewellery and computers to burglars.

There has been a string of dognappings in the city’s west in recent months, with police advising owners to ensure pets are microchipped and photographed.

In the early hours of the morning last month, as twins Talia and Kay-Lee slept, a pair of thieves — unable to find the keys to the family car — instead turned their sights on the twins’ nine-week-old pomeranian Frosty.

As the burglars tip-toed around the Glenmore Park house, the fluffy white puppy started to make noise. In a sign of the times, the burglars came armed with dog treats to quieten Frosty while they went about their business.

When that didn’t work, they fled with a car key, fuel cans, a car battery, some cash — and Frosty.

In recent cases kidnappers have demanded a ransom before returning pets.

Luckily for Talia and Kay-Lee, Mt Druitt police located Frosty two days later. A car was stopped in Glendenning and officers found drugs, and Frosty in the back seat.

In the past two months Mt Druitt police have tracked down and returned three stolen dogs, including Frosty, a seven-week-old beagle named Bentley and eight-month-old bulldog Tessa.

The dogs were looked after by Constable Brendan Oxford and Senior-Constable Andy Hiam at the Mt Druitt police station before being returned to their families.

Frosty’s owner Jason said: “The girls were shattered when it happened. Frosty was their first dog and their first pet. They’re so happy to have him back home.

“We can’t thank the police enough for finding him.

“He has become a bit of a hit on social media.

“Everyone in the town is asking us about him.’’

In February two men were charged with stealing a dog from a Bonnyrigg backyard.

The owner told police she had received a phone call giving her a location. The thieves said her dog would be returned for cash.

Police intercepted the two men and located Lily — a female labrador cross staffordshire — in a car, where they also allegedly found cannabis, stolen goods and a balaclava.

The men were charged with stealing a dog and corruptly take reward.

A NSW Police spokeswoman confirmed there had been a “number of reported cases of dogs being stolen recently’’ and said anyone stealing a family dog would face criminal prosecution.

[Sheridan]

That last sentence is at least positive. People reporting dog thefts previously have indicated a lack of interest from the police.

[Cody]

And people still think dog stealing is a myth...

[Sheridan]

Dog stealing for baiting purposes. Dognapping for ransom isn't the same thing.

Edited April 5, 2014 by Sheridan

[melzawelza]

And people still think dog stealing is a myth...

I don't know many people who believe that dogs being stolen is a myth.

But many people, myself included, are sick of the assumption that every single dog theft is for dog fighting purposes, when they have been yet to see any credible evidence of this being the case even on a small scale let alone on a massive scale as hysterical facebooking posts indicate.

Glad to see these dogs have been returned home and the police are taking it so seriously.

[mita]

Few years back, local police issues a press release in our local paper. A bunch of people were going around stealing small breed, attractive dogs from the yards of homes. Police believe they were being resold somewhere. Their advice was to keep such dogs out of view from the street.

But, as the OP case, burglars can also break in... & include the dog among the loot.

Tho', when a neighbour's house was burgled when they were out, their big dog, Max, was found locked in the garden shed. He was dead to the world, sleeping off a huge meal. The thieves had emptied the fridge and put the contents in with him. To keep him occupied, it seemed.

So glad that Frosty was found & returned, safe and well.

Edited April 6, 2014 by mita

[Cody]

And people still think dog stealing is a myth...

I don't know many people who believe that dogs being stolen is a myth.

But many people, myself included, are sick of the assumption that every single dog theft is for dog fighting purposes, when they have been yet to see any credible evidence of this being the case even on a small scale let alone on a massive scale as hysterical facebooking posts indicate.

Glad to see these dogs have been returned home and the police are taking it so seriously.

In other threads here, some dolers have refused to believe dogs are being stolen.