Police probe rise in dognappings

The ransom demand of £500 was doubled for one owner

A spate of dog thefts and ransom demands is being investigated in the Forest of Dean, police have confirmed.

The BBC has learned 24 animals were "dognapped" within a single two-week period in May.

In one case, a £500 ransom demand was increased to £1,000 on the point of the dog being reunited with its owner.

Pc John Palfrey said: "It's important that people keep in contact with the police right from the initial incident."

Jane Hayes, who runs the DogLost website from her home in Newport, South Wales, went along with one owner from the Forest of Dean who had agreed to pay back £500 for his dog.

Increased ransom

"He was led off by three guys with Irish accents and they demanded the money," she said.

"They brought the dog out, then they said, 'we don't want £500 anymore, we want £1,000'.

"He said, 'well what can I do, I don't have that money on me', so he decided the best thing he could do was just grapple with them, grab the dog and make a run for it.

We've caught people leaning over the gate on several occasions trying to encourage the dogs with food Dog owner Sharon

"He managed to get to his car with the dog and sped off but it took him 30 miles to lose them."

Coleford resident Sharon, who did not want her surname published, has also been targetted by dognappers.

She said: "My son let the dogs out one night and as he followed there was a man leaning over the gate to grab at one of the dogs.

"My son shouted and he ran off but we've caught people leaning over the gate on several occasions trying to encourage the dogs with food."

Pc Palfrey said: "I understand the frustrations of people who've lost an animal that is very important to them.

"They must report it to the police and if it is the case that the dog has been stolen then we would create a crime for that.

"We do work with groups like DogLost to try and recover these animals."