Police and crime commissioners throughout England and Wales are being led by Sussex's PCC in a national survey about dog thefts.
Commissioner Katy Bourne today (February 19) launched the poll, which she said was designed to understand public perception of dog theft, enforcement and the prosecution of offenders.
It came as the Home Secretary undertook a review of the issue of pet theft, and how future enforcement of the law might look, with potentially tougher penalties for perpetrators.
The PCC added that the responses to this survey will help inform the discussions that her colleagues will have on this issue nationally, and allow police forces to better understand the public's views on this crime and how they might improve their response to those concerns.
Police believe that, among some consumers, demand for dogs as pets has increased during the coronavirus pandemic.
The cost of some puppies, on 'Pets4Homes', is currently as high as £3,000, making them a valuable commodity to criminals.
According to 'Dog Lost', the UK's largest lost and found dog service, it is estimated thefts have risen by 250 per cent, with criminal gangs involved.
Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne is strongly involved with what it's claimed is the "first national conversation with the public" on this issue — as public perception and fear are growing.
PCC Bourne said:
"Pet theft, dog theft in particular, is a growing concern for the public and their fear has been perpetuated over the last couple of weeks with shocking reports in the media of more dogs being snatched by criminals.
"I am incredibly eager to get more detail around this issue and understand residents' views and if they feel more could be done to respond to their concerns or for more preventative measures to be put in place to better protect their pets.
"I'm pleased to see the Home Secretary recognising the devastating impact of this crime and I hope that the results of this survey will give the Government the evidence it needs to take more robust action against perpetrators."
In raw figures, the incidence of the crime across Sussex is low, but each incident involves a beloved family member.
Sussex Police recorded 31 dog thefts in 2020, and officers understood that at least 12 of those were disputes over dog ownership between people known to each other.
Inspector Andrea Leahy from the Sussex Police Rural Crime Team said:
"We support this national survey and the team are working tirelessly to collate information and intelligence on this worrying crime.
"We have dedicated officers covering the county who review every report that comes into us.
"We would like to encourage the public to report all suspicious circumstances and read our crime prevention advice on our website.
"We are dedicated to keeping your pets safe and target any persons believed to be involved in this distressing crime."
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