Puppies snatched in home raids

Five Staffordshire bull terrier puppies have been snatched from two Black Country homes in raids on successive days, sparking fears of a dog theft epidemic.

Burglars ignored a television, stereo and jewellery after breaking into a house in Merryfield Road, Dudley, making off with four 10-week-old puppies.

The previous evening an 11-week-old pup was poached as he played in the back garden of a property in Wrens Hill Road, Dudley. The thefts come after two other owners recently put up £1,000 rewards to help trace thieves.

On Friday, burglars forced their way into the home of Sherrie and Philip Wilde.

Mrs Wilde, aged 18, believes the couple were targeted after advertising 11 puppies for sale.

She had managed to sell seven of the litter, born to mum Mesha weeks ago, but is now concerned for the welfare of the three bitches and a male which were stolen.

"I really don't want them to be mistreated," she said.

The puppies are described as a tan female, white and tan female and two Tiger brindle pups, one male and one bitch.

Meanwhile, Emma Duffield, aged 31, says her family is "heartbroken" after 11-week-old Patch was taken on Thursday.

"We sent him out to play with our German shepherd Rex at around 7pm but when we called them in only one came back," she said.

"The thieves had got in through a fence panel and taken him."

Mrs Duffield added that daughters Kimberly, 10, and Rebecca, 13, have also been left devastated.

Earlier this month Barry Whitehouse put up a £1,000 reward after four terriers went missing from his home in Newport, Shropshire, before two were later recovered in Sedgley. There was a happy ending for fellow victim Bob Lord, who also offered £1,000 to recover his terrier which went missing from his home in Lye while he was on holiday. He was reunited with Suzie after an article in the Express & Star.

West Midland Police spokeswoman Catherine Preece said last week's incidents were being investigated.