Dog owners warned after attempted theft at Sheffield park

Dog owners have been warned to be vigilant after a reported attempted theft at a Sheffield park.
By Steve Jones
Published 14th Mar 2021, 09:32 BST
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According to reports on social media two men inside a white van pulled over outside the entrance to Richmond Park on Saturday afternoon and demanded a dog owner hand over his Dogue de Bordeaux called Deisel.

The man’s son wrote on Facebook: “Our Diesel is a keen and protective dog, they had second thoughts [...] probably want him for fighting as he’s a Dogue de Bordeaux.”

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South Yorkshire Police have begun 63 investigations into dog thefts since July 2020 as lockdown prompted a surge in demand for puppies.

The dog owner was reportedly approached at the entrance to Richmond Park.The dog owner was reportedly approached at the entrance to Richmond Park.
The dog owner was reportedly approached at the entrance to Richmond Park.

Assistant Chief Constable Tim Forber told a Police and Crime Commissioner meeting: "We have seen a significant increase in dog thefts.

"We still have a relatively small number of offences but these are commodities which have significantly grown in value over lockdown.”

Nottinghamshire Police has become the first police force in the UK to employ a specialist ‘canine crime’ officer.