Thefts rose in lockdown.

Pet abduction has been on the rise in the UK and it is now set to become a criminal offence. During various lockdowns in the UK, there was a rise in reported cases of pets being taken from homes, but at the time these cases were only treated as the loss of an owner's property. Ministers in England are now pushing for new laws as such thefts can cause emotional distress for pet owners. A pet theft task force was recently set up to tackle the issue, finding that around 2,000 dogs had been reported as stolen last year. The task force comprises of UK government officials, police, prosecutors, and local authorities, and includes evidence from animal welfare groups and academics to back up the need for action to be taken. A report also found that seven in 10 pets that had been reported as stolen were dogs. The Theft Act 1968 carries a maximum of seven years, and ministers are saying that there is little evidence that it is being used in cases like this. With the introduction of the new offence for pet abduction, it is not known how long the sentence will be.

Using data from Dogs Trust, the report said the cost of the UK's most sought after dog breeds grew significantly in the first lockdown, rising as high as 89%.

The report suggested that this made dog theft more appealing at this time as there was value to be sought after. It also added that additional information should be required when registering a microchip and transferring ownership. More straightforward access to this database is also being recommended by the task force to make it easier to find stolen dogs, as well as further initiatives by police and others to raise awareness.