Pet Theft on Rise Nationwide, AKC Says

As the country continues to face a tough economy, more dogs have become targets for crime—an increase in pet thefts has hit the U.S., according to the American Kennel Club (AKC).

About 224 pets have been reported stolen nationwide in the first seven months of this year.

During the same time period last year, only 150 pets were reported stolen, based on the AKC’s Companion Animal Recovery pet theft database.

"We are getting reports almost daily of pets stolen during home invasions, out of parked cars while people are running errands and even snatched from dog lovers out for a walk in the park," said AKC spokeswoman Lisa Peterson in a statement last week. "We’ve even seen a new trend of dogs being stolen from shelters and adoption events for the first time this year."

But here in Hermosa Beach, police told Patch on Tuesday that there have been no recent reports of pet thefts in the city.

Pets are stolen for various reasons, according to the AKC, but mainly for profit. Some thieves resell dogs on the Internet or hold the pet ransom depending on the value of the animal. Others sometimes keep the pet for themselves or give it away as a gift.

If your furry friend is stolen, Hermosa Beach police said the incident would be treated just like any other crime—a police report would be filed and then the detective bureau would investigate. Police also said that the news media sometimes help recover lost or stolen pets.

Here on Patch, you can notify the community if your pet has run away or thought to have been stolen by creating an announcement—we'll make sure to spread the word.