As pet owners, it can be devastating to lose a beloved pet and even with microchipping - it can sometimes be hard to get them back.
Distraught animal lovers in the West Midlands have seen thousands of pets stolen over the last five years. Pet theft is at record levels - increasing by as much as 147% in some parts of the UK, according to research by a home security company ADT.
And the most common pet to be stolen is dogs - with birds and cats coming second and third. As many as 10.4 pets were stolen from every 100,000 people in the West Midlands since 2018.
As pet owners, there are many ways to keep our pooches safe from dognappers. Here are the top five tips from security experts ADT:
According to ADT, despite the huge number of pet thefts in the West Midlands, other UK regions including Devon and Cornwall, Northumbria and Lancashire are seeing higher levels.
There are some breeds of dogs that are more likely to get stolen than the others - which is something to keep in mind if you’re a dog owner already - or a prospective
Here are the nine most commonly stolen breeds:
1. Staffordshire Bull Terrier
These dogs are fierce but humans can be scary too. Staffordshire Bull Terriers are 25.7% more likely to get stolen making the top most commonly stolen breed of dogs. Getting a Staffordshire Bull Terrier puppy from a Kennel Club-assured breeder will cost you around £1,000–£2,500. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images)
2. Chihuahua
These tiny dogs are lap dogs most commonly. Chihuaha’s are the second most commonly stolen at 12%. This breed costs around £1,000–2,000 or more for a well-bred pedigree. (Photo credit -FRANK RUMPENHORST/DPA/AFP via Getty Images)
3. French Bulldog
These dogs are not aggressive and are likely to be very gentle with humans. French Bulldogs are the third most commonly stolen at 9.8%. A healthy and well-bred French Bulldog puppy from a Kennel Club assured breeder costs between £1000 up to £3000. (Photo -EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Getty Images)
4. German Shepherd
Despite being big protectors, German Shepherds get stolen too. They are the fourth most commonly stolen at 8.1%. A puppy will cost between £600 to £2000. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)