Dognapping

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Please improve this article if you can. (January 2007)

Dognapping is the crime of taking a canine from its owner, it is one of the fastest growing crimes in the UK [1], as well as being very profitable. Dognapping usually occurs in purebred dogs, the profit from which can run up to thousands of dollars. Dognappers most usually attack during dog walks.

[edit] Methods

Usually, the dognapping occurs during walking time, and in the dark. Dognappers are known to pose as joggers and sneak around the person walking their dog. The dognapper then continues in grabbing the dog, and running off with it. This does not always occur, as some dognappers have been known to harm the owner, or kidnap the owner as well.

[edit] Prevention

Dogs can be fitted with a micro-chip that tracks them via satellite. Although these devices can be costly, they are accessible by the police and owners through the internet. The second option is for dogs to be tattooed with a number, and registered on a database, then searchers could find the canine. Other prevention devices include flashing lights on the dogs collar, to high durable leashes that can lock.