North Yorkshire Police has urged dog owners not to take weapons on daily walks amid growing concern about the crime.
The police issued the advice today as part of a move to reassure people that dog theft remains rare.
It said in a statement there have been 11 reported dog thefts so far this year, compared with 10 from July to September last year
The statement added:
“We have heard reports of dog owners taking weapons on daily walks and we strongly advise against doing so.
“Carrying a weapon is illegal and could result in injury to yourself and/or others.
“Dog theft is an issue which can understandably be very worrying for our communities, however these type of incidents are rare.”
The statement added people should be wary of believing social media posts about dog thefts “as some issues may not be as they appear”.
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“The rising prices of dogs have made them a target for criminals. Most would probably make more money stealing a dog than a wallet.
“Laws are now relatively robust with sentences up to five years but many criminals receive just a caution or a fine.”
