Our interactive map shows where in London saw the highest number of pet thefts in 2023.
The borough of Hounslow tops the list, with 95 animals stolen last year.
Coming in second is Brent with 50 pets taken, while third place goes to Islington with 39.
At the other end of the list, Richmond had the lowest number of thefts, with only seven stolen, followed by Havering, Wandsworth and Kingston-upon-Thames, which all saw eight thefts in 2023.
The most popular animals to be stolen, unsurprisingly, are dogs, with 359 taken across London last year.
Meanwhile, 155 cats were snatched over the 12 month period, followed by 113 birds and 45 mammals (excluding dogs and cats).
Other stolen pets include 18 fish, six reptiles and one arachnid.
Out of the 697 pets taken, just 39 were recovered and reunited with their owners.
The Met Police has been contacted for a comment.
In 2021 the government promised to make cat and dog theft a more serious offence, and label it as an ‘abduction’ after a rise in reported thefts during Covid lockdowns.
Currently pets in England and Northern Ireland are considered in law to be property and stealing one is covered by the 1968 Theft act.
The act carries a maximum prison term of seven years, but sentences for pet thefts are significantly lower as the severity of the punishment is partly determined by the monetary value of the item taken.
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But it doesn’t take into account the emotional ties people have with pets compared to an inanimate object, campaigners argue.
Dr Daniel Allen, founder of campaign group Pet Theft UK, has been one of the key architects behind the Pet Abduction bill, which seeks to impose harsher penalties on those who steal pets.
‘The rise in pet theft is due to the fact that it’s a low risk, high reward crime,’ Dr Allen told Metro. ‘Only 1% of people who steal dogs get sentenced, and those that do tend to receive a suspended sentence or a small fine.
‘So if you’re into criminality it’s something which is easy money but comes with a high degree of harm to the victims.’
He added: ‘Although the volume might be relatively low compared to other types of crime, the impact it has on families and people with pets is massive.
‘It’s traumatic, and it tears families apart in terms of their mental and physical health. It’s a crime which has a massive impact our pets are family members- we have such strong emotional bond with them and that not knowing where they are is a really horrible thing.’
The Pet Abduction Bill passed its first Commons hurdle unopposed in January and will now face further scrutiny from MPs and peers.
How to protect your dog from theft
The Met Police offers advice on how to keep your dog as safe as possible on its website. Below we share a few of their tips.
Registering and identifying your dog
- Make sure your dog is microchipped and the details are correct on any of the recognised pet registration databases.
- Fit your dog with a collar and tag with your contact number and surname, not the name of your dog.
- Take pictures of your dog from various angles that could be used to help recover your pet if taken. A photo with you and the dog together is useful too if you need to prove ownership.
When home
- Ideally don’t leave your pet unattended in your garden or yard as this is one of the most common places pets are taken from.
- Fit a bell or gate alarm to any rear or side gates and the gates should be secured with good locks.
- The garden boundary should be secure to prevent your dog from escaping or a thief from reaching in and taking your dog out.
When out
- Never leave your dog unattended in a car – especially on warm days – as it is not just dangerous for their health but allows them to be easily targeted by thieves.
- Leaving your dog alone outside a shop provides another easy opportunity for a thief, even if you are only away for a minute.
- It’s important your dog will return when called; if it is not trained to do this, be very careful of allowing them off the lead, especially in unfamiliar areas.
- Varying the times and routes you take when walking your dog will help to prevent your dog from being targeted.
- Be careful of strangers asking you a lot of questions about your dog.
- If your social media is public be careful what you post, especially regarding details of where you live and walk and your dog’s breed.
However, government support means it is more likely to become law.
The bill was brought forward by Conservative MP Anna Firth, who told the BBC: ‘I just find it unbelievable that we treat the loss of a living creature, a member of our family, as if it is a power tool or a laptop.’
During the first 18 months of the pandemic, more people than ever became dog owners, taking the country’s canine population to over 10 million.
Around 2,000 dog thefts were reported to police in 2020 alone, with pricey and in-demand pets suddenly becoming more appealing to criminals.
Under the new legislation, anyone convicted of the offence could face a fine or a maximum of five years in prison.
In August last year TV star Lizzie Cundy spoke of her devastation after two thieves snatch her Maltipoo Alfie from the street in Belgravia, London.
She offered a £5,000 reward for the dog’s safe return and said at the time: ‘Dogs are part of the family.
‘I do so much for dogs charities and it’s heartbreaking for him to be stolen and snatched away like this.’
If your pet is taken contact police and report it stolen, providing as many descriptive details as you can.
You should also contact your local council to make them aware as many have dog warden services that deal with stray cats and dogs.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
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