Dog-napping: Shocking scale of West Midlands pet thefts revealed

• Staffs Bull Terrier - 45

• Lurcher - 11

• Dogue Du Bordeaux - 10

• Pug - 7

• Shar Pei - 5

• Greyhound - 5

• German Shepherd - 4

• Siberian Husky - 4

• Akita - 3

• American Bulldog - 3

• Chihuahua - 3

Expensive pedigree breeds such as Dogue Du Bordeauxs along with 'handbag' dogs like pugs made famous by celebrities are among those favoured by dog snatchers, West Midlands Police figures show.

Thefts are even becoming more brazen with one gang this year smashing a woman's car window while she popped into McDonald's to grab her Chihuahua.

The document shows no less than 71 different breeds were taken. And in total, 193 dogs were recorded as being stolen over the past five years. Trusty Staffordshire Bull Terriers top the list of breeds with 45 taken. The dogs go for up to £500 when sold over the internet.

Ten Dogue Du Bordeaux were taken – all from the Sandwell borough. The dogs can fetch up to £2,000 each.

Eleven Lurchers were stolen, nine from the Dudley borough, and five Shar Pei were taken, all from Sandwell. Both breeds of dog can fetch up to £1,500.

Four German Shepherds were stolen, seven Pugs, two in Wolverhampton and one in Sandwell last year. Four French Bulldogs were all taken along with three American Bulldogs. One Pomeranian – made famous by Paris Hilton –- was taken.

In the Black Country in 2011/12, a total of 40 dogs were snatched but 17 and 15 were taken in 2014/15 and 2015/16 respectively. Walsall and Sandwell areas saw the most dog thefts, with 21 from each borough.

Jennie Dhanjal, who set up the West Midlands-based K9 Search UK website in 2008, said: "In the last few weeks, we have been getting actual thefts. There was one on October 11 where a lady had gone shopping at Bilston Market and she put her shopping in the car, along with her Chihuahua.

"She was hungry and went into McDonald's. And the car was smashed and the dog stolen. The owner is distraught. I have imagined they have watched her put the dog in the car. This is what happens.

Four seven-week-old Cocker Spaniels puppies were recently snatched by thieves from the back garden of their home in Cradley Heath.

The young cocker spaniels, worth around £750 each, were taken from a pen in Maypole Fields while the owners were out of the house on September 30.

Raiders targeted the property and made off with the adorable quartet of pups.

The secretary of the Sedgley and Gornal Staffordshire Bull Terrier Ringcraft Club Ian Biddlestone said of that breed: "I know they do get stolen but so do a lot of other dogs. If you look at Facebook, it's like clockwork. I was under the impression that dogs are stolen for some kind of financial gain."

Earlier this year, it was revealed over 5,000 dogs were reported stolen in England and Wales and that suspected thefts had increased by over a fifth in just two years.

Tracie McGrory, Pet Bereavement Support Manager at Blue Cross, said of the most recent statistics: "While these police figures appear to be on the decline, we would recommend pet owners in the West Midlands take precautions to prevent this terrible crime happening to them. A pet is an integral part of so many families who are absolutely devastated if they are stolen.

"Not only are they missing their pet they are also desperately worried about what is happening to them."

And a West Midlands Police spokesman said: "Although a dog can easily go astray of its own accord, if a person is sure their dog has been stolen it is treated as a theft and therefore a criminal investigation will take place.

"As with all crime types it is better to take steps to prevent a theft from occurring in the first place by avoiding situations where dogs can be stolen, such as leaving them alone outside shops for example.

"If a dog is stolen, then detailed descriptions, including any distinguishing features, as well as photographs can significantly help us with our inquiries."