Thieves 'targeting bull terriers'

Many of the Staffordshire Bull Terriers are taken as puppies

Thieves may be specifically targeting Staffordshire Bull Terriers, a report obtained by the BBC says.

The Metropolitan Police document shows there was a 74% rise in stolen dogs across the London area last year, from 239 to 417, with many taken as puppies.

Staffordshire Bull Terriers made up 56% of all the dogs stolen.

The report, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, says some criminals may be using the dogs to guard "criminal assets".

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The worst areas for the thefts have been Croydon, Bromley, Greenwich, Haringey, Lambeth and Hackney.

In the financial years 2003/2004 and 2004/2005 respectively, 228 and 239 dogs were stolen.

That figure rose to 417 in 2005/2006.

Met Police report [192kb] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here

The report recommends further research into why Staffordshire Bull Terriers are so heavily targeted.

It quotes a dog website which says the dogs are "exceedingly protective of their family and make excellent guardians and watchdogs" and "excel in agility and obedience".

These factors - along with information on dogs being used in crime - suggest that some Staffordshire Bull Terriers could be used to commit crime, the report says.

The report states: "There is the possibility that such dogs could be used by criminals such as drug dealers or stolen property handlers to protect their criminal assets at various locations including homes, outbuildings or cars."

'Macho image'

Veronica Brown, of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier Breed Council, says the breed's good nature - which runs contrary to popular opinion - may make them easier to steal.

She said: "I think many dogs get stolen and I think, yes, there is probably more inclination to steal Staffordshire Bull Terriers.

MOST STOLEN DOGS 1. Stafford Bull Terrier - 56% 2. Rottweiler - 5% 3. German Shepherd - 4% 4. Cocker Spaniel - 2% 5. Jack Russell - 2% Source: Met Police report

"They're so people orientated that they will go with anyone, contrary to their reputation. They're happy to go off with people. They just love people.

"Because of their macho image, people think they're going to look macho with a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, but the dogs would far rather be curled up by the fire."

The police document notes that thefts of dogs from people's homes seems to occur when they have advertised dogs, particularly puppies, for sale.

This can often result in several dogs being stolen at once.

Sometimes several suspects will attend a venue to view some puppies, and while one distracts the owner, another takes them.

Dogs have also been stolen from locked cars and from pet shops.

There were 24 cases of a dog actually being used to commit a crime, including 11 muggings and 11 assaults, according to the report.

In the 18 cases where a description was given, 10 were Staffordshire Bull Terriers and four were Pitbulls.