Thieves nab OAP's puppy from garden

28 February 2007

VICTIM: Much-loved Pippa.

A DOG lover is warning owners to be on their guard after a pensioner's puppy was stolen from her garden in broad daylight.

Fiona Morley, from Bickley, contacted the Bromley Times when mum Pamela's young pet Pippa was taken last Wednesday.

She said: "Mum is extremely upset and her other two dogs are very upset. I always thought the issue was 'can my puppy get out?' not can someone get in and take her. I had no idea dog theft was as bad as it is. It's just horrendous."

The crime follows new Metropolitan police figures which revealed Bromley as one of the worst hit London boroughs for dog theft.

A group of men were legitimately selling fish in marked vans near Beech Copse, Bickley, around 3pm that day.

Then a man arrived in an unmarked white van and pretended to be a salesman, before brazenly walking up to Mrs Morley's gate and taking her beloved puppy. Builders nearby saw him walking away with the pet.

Ms Morley added: "She was a really bouncy, friendly little puppy. She got on really well with the other two dogs. My niece and nephew are pretty beside themselves, they can't understand why somebody would do that. We trekked all the way to Norfolk because she was exactly what she wanted. Her breeder is devastated too because she's never had a puppy stolen before."

The family have put up posters, gone door to door and contacted the police and veterinary surgeries desperately trying to find their pet.

They fear the animal was taken to make money.

Miss Morley said: "If it's an older dog they're after a ransom and will say they found the dog, but with puppies they are stealing to order.

"It's now bigger than car theft in some areas. It must have been terribly frightening for the puppy.

"Other puppy owners have got to be made aware that it's such a prevalent thing. They have got to be a bit suspicious of anybody asking about their puppy, which sounds awful, but they have got to be careful."

Pippa is a 16-week old, black and tan, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Her details are featured on www.doglost.co.uk.

If you have information about where she is contact Margaret Davis on 020 8269 7000 or Battersea Dogs Home on 0901 477 8477 quoting reference 208 864.

margaret.davis@archant.co.uk