A woman has been left shaken after two men tried to steal her dog whilst walking through an alleyway.
Whilst on the walk with her French Bulldog just off Brinsley Hill, Brinsley, it’s alleged the men approached her and claimed that they wanted her dog. She then picked him up, at which points the men reportedly tried to attack her.
She is reported to have sustained cuts to her hands and arms, but did not need medical attention.
Officers received a call just before 2.30pm on Friday (9 April 2021) reporting the incident. Fortunately, the woman was able to return home with her dog safely and the men were deterred from the scene.
It’s also reported that the woman had noticed markings on a tree in her garden.
Officers are investigating the incident as part of a targeted approach by the force to tackle dog thefts in Nottinghamshire, which has seen the appointment of a dog theft lead.
Superintendent Paul Burrows said: “A woman has been shaken after what should have been an enjoyable walk with her beloved dog.
“We understand that for many people your dogs are part of your family and Nottinghamshire Police understands that as well which is why we are taking a targeted approach to tackling this type of crime.
“I want to reassure people that if you want to report any concerns about your dogs being stolen, or attempted dog thefts, we will take that seriously.
“I want to make it clear to anybody involved in dog theft that it will not be tolerated.”
“As well as investigating dog thefts we are dedicated to preventing them from happening, and there are a number of things pet owners can do to increase safety for themselves and their pets.
“One of the best things is to have your dog microchipped and that the details are up-to-date . This is one of the fastest ways that the police can track stolen animals should the worst happen and really save you the heartache.”Around 50 per cent of dog thefts reported to us have been from gardens and by securing fences, gates and perimeters it could help reduce this threat. Please do get in touch if you see anything suspicious, such as markings on fences or trees.
“Officers are keen to determine the circumstances around this incident and anyone who may have seen this or has any information is asked to get in touch.”
Anyone who saw the incident or has any information is urged to get in touch on 101, quoting incident 353 of 9 April 2021.
Anyone who has had their dog stolen should contact Nottinghamshire Police on 101, or 999 in an emergency.
