·         Dog theft across England and Wales fell by 23 per cent in 2019 – the first decrease since survey began, with an estimated 600 fewer pets stolen last year than the year before

·         Despite this, an average of six dogs were reported stolen every day across England and Wales

·         2019 saw a rise in the number of crossbreeds (up 42 per cent) and cocker spaniels (up 93 per cent) stolen but a fall in the number of French Bulldogs (down 65 per cent) and Jack Russell’s (down 69 per cent)

·         In 2019, over a fifth (22 per cent) of stolen dogs were returned to their owners

 

New research¹ from Direct Line Pet Insurance reveals that, for the first time since the study began in 2014, there has been a year-on-year fall in the number of dogs reported stolen across England and Wales. In 2019, an estimated 2,026 dogs were reported as stolen to police forces, a fall of 23 per cent compared to 2018 (2,625)². Despite this good news, on average, six dogs were still reported as stolen every day.

For the sixth year in a row, Staffordshire Bull Terriers are the most popular breed of dog to be targeted by thieves, with 89 dogs stolen in 2019. Crossbreeds remain the second most commonly targeted, although the number stolen in 2019 increased substantially, by 42 per cent. This is perhaps partly due to the popularity and expense of so-called designer dog breeds like Puggles and Schnoodles. Chihuahuas remained in third place in the table, although with a slight reduction (four per cent) in numbers stolen compared to 2018.

Yorkshire Terriers, which did not make it into the top 10 most commonly stolen breeds in 2018 are now sixth, with triple the number stolen in 2019.  This may be partly due to their popularity among well-known celebrities such as Serena Williams, Simon Cowell and Steven Tyler. Lurchers and Border Collies were also outside the top 10 in 2018 but are both now among the most popular targets for thieves.

Table one: Top 10 most commonly stolen dog breeds in 2019

Eva Sandstra-Bennett, Head of Pet Insurance at Direct Line, said: “It is encouraging to see that the number of dogs stolen has fallen over the last year and, during the current lock down period, we expect this to drop even more. There is a risk, however, that these numbers may start to rise again as Lucy’s Law³ which came into force in April restricting sale of puppies from third parties, could result in some thieves having to take drastic measures to access certain breeds.

“Dogs are such an important part of our lives, so to have one stolen is like losing a member of the family. We urge dog owners to be extra vigilant while out on their walks or in the car and not leave their beloved pets alone. Simple steps like not tying dogs outside of shops or leaving them in cars can help reduce the likelihood of becoming a target for thieves.”

In more positive news for dog owners, the number of dogs returned to their owners in 2019 increased. In 2018, 410 dogs were reunited with their owners, but in 2019, 430 were reunited, a rise of five per cent. This means nearly one in five (22 per cent) stolen dogs were recovered.

Police force data

London (17 per cent) and the South East (16 per cent) remained the dog theft hotspots in England and Wales, with the two regions accounting for a third of all reported cases of dog theft last year. The Metropolitan Police Service reported the greatest number of dogs stolen, at 329 in 2019, a slight rise of eight per cent on 2018 (304).

West Yorkshire Police received the second greatest number of reports (167) of stolen dogs in 2019, while Kent saw the third highest with 100 reports. Both forces, however, received fewer reports of stolen dogs in 2019 compared to 2018, a reduction of seven per cent and four per cent respectively. Alongside the Metropolitan Police, the top 10 police forces which saw increases in the number of dogs stolen in 2019 were Leicestershire Constabulary (26 per cent), West Mercia Police (23 per cent), Essex Police (19 per cent) and Durham Constabulary (16 per cent).

Table two: Estimated number of dogs stolen in each police force 

Source: Direct Line Pet Insurance 2020

At the other end of the scale, Warwickshire Police and Northamptonshire Police received just eight reports of stolen dogs in 2019, while Avon & Somerset Constabulary received nine. Humberside Police was the force which saw the greatest reduction in reports of dog theft, receiving 147 in 2018 but just 31 in 2019, a fall of 79 per cent. Greater Manchester Police and Dorset Police also saw substantial reductions in reports, with the number of cases falling from 58 to 24 (down 62 per cent) and 161 to 61 (down 59 per cent) between 2018 and 2019 respectively.

Dyfed-Powys Police returned the greatest proportion of dogs to their owners last year, reuniting 26 out of 33 dogs with their owners, a success rate of four in five (79 per cent). Completing the top three forces for returning dogs are Northamptonshire Police, which reunited five of eight stolen dogs (63 per cent) and Nottinghamshire Police, which reunited 14 dogs out of 23 stolen (61 per cent).

Eva Sandstra-Bennett, Head of Pet Insurance at Direct Line, continued: “It is great to see that the number of dogs returned to their owners is on the rise across the country, giving hope to those who have had their dog stolen. The positive changes in the law in recent years, such as microchipping become a legal obligation, will have contributed to the improvements in reuniting owners with their lost pets and we hope that this continues in the coming years.”

Steps to follow if your dog is stolen:

• Firstly, check the local area and your dog’s favourite spots as your dog may have wandered off
• Make your dog ‘too hot to handle’ by sharing on social media, putting up posters in the local area and informing local media – include pictures and any distinctive marks in any appeals, and ask others to spread the word
• There are some specific sites set up to help find lost and stolen dogs, like doglost.co.uk
• Report your dog as stolen to the police and provide them with as much detail as possible
• Report your dog as stolen to local pet related services like vets, animal shelters, pet shops, dog wardens and the council. Provide photos, a physical description and the dogs microchip number
• Report your dog to the microchip database

 

- ENDS -

Notes to Editors

 

¹          Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request made to Police Forces in England and Wales in February 2020. 35 of 45 police forces (78%) responded with usable data

²          2018 study took place in February 2019, when 39 of 45 police forces (87%) responded to a FOIA request, of which 34 (76%) provided usable data

³          Lucy’s Law - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/lucys-law-spells-the-beginning-of-the-end-for-puppy-farming

For further information please contact:

Akshay Patel

Direct Line Group

Tel: 01651 832 145

Email: [email protected]

Samantha Stewart

Citigate Dewe Rogerson

[email protected]

0207 025 6497

 

Direct Line

Started in 1985, Direct Line became the first UK insurance company to use the telephone as its main channel of communication. It provides motor, home, travel and pet insurance cover direct to customers by phone or on-line.

Direct Line general insurance policies are underwritten by U K Insurance Limited, Registered office: The Wharf, Neville Street, Leeds LS1 4AZ. Registered in England and Wales No 1179980. U K Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.

Direct Line and UK Insurance limited are both part of Direct Line Insurance Group plc.

Customers can find out more about Direct Line products or get a quote by calling 0345 246 3761 or visiting www.directline.com/car-cover