Well, Unlike The Met, At Least Hampshire Police Are Warning People...

....though they are being coy about who might be responsible:

Police want people to report any suspicious activity after a woman had to fight off a dog-snatcher in Marks Road, Titchfield on Friday, September 20.

She had been walking her West Highland terrier at around 7pm when a small white van pulled up beside her, screeching the brakes as it stopped, and a man got out and tried to take her dog.

In a separate incident, a man tried to snatch a miniature schnauzer, which was being walked by a woman in Chatsworth Close, Fareham at around 8.30pm on Tuesday, September 24. A car pulled up beside her, a man got out and tried to steal the dog. She pulled the dog back on its lead and he drove away empty-handed.

Sounds familiar! And, it's not the only thing that does...

Vet Peter Heather, from Fareham Creek Veterinary Surgery, warned that thefts are not uncommon and said dogs are snatched to sell on, for breeding purposes or to be entered into illegal dog fights.

Mr Heather said: ‘We’ve known of dog thefts for a while. Quite recently we reunited a dog owner with two dogs that had been stolen in Whiteley.

‘The dogs had been wandering freely near a travellers site when a member of public, concerned for its welfare, grabbed one and brought it in to us.

*shocked face*