14/02/2021
https://www.facebook.com/177595661854/posts/10158761197836855/
*** Appeal after Attempted Dog Theft in Hartlepool ***
Police are appealing for information after a report of an attempted theft of a dog in Hartlepool.
The incident happened around 1:30pm on Saturday 13th February, as a man aged in his twenties walked his English Bulldog along Wiltshire Way, near to the locally named ‘black path’.
The victim was approached by a man, who pushed him to the ground. The suspect grabbed the dog’s lead and attempted to make off. Fortunately, however, the victim was able to keep hold of the dog and he made his way home, with the dog who was unharmed.
The suspect then made off on foot. He has been described as a white male, aged in his mid-twenties, of chubby build and “scruffy” appearance. He was wearing a dark zipped jacket, black Nike tracksuit bottoms, white Adidas socks with his tracksuit bottoms tucked in them and trainers.
Officers believe that the incident is likely to have been opportunist and would appeal for any witnesses or anyone with information regarding the male responsible to come forward.
Whilst there was an increase in reported dog thefts nationally in 2020, Cleveland Police has received a small number (three) reports of incidents relating to dog theft to date this year.
The number of incidents in Cleveland remains low, however, officers would ask members of the public to follow the advice from the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) on taking precautionary measures such as checking privacy settings on social media before sharing pictures of pets online, as this can attract attention from some criminals.
Further advice on protecting your dog against theft can be found on the Blue Cross website, along with steps to take if this happens.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Constable Laura Baker, from Hartlepool CID, on the non-emergency number 101, quoting incident number 023327.
Independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously, on 0800 555 111, or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.
