As demand has increased for animal companions during national lockdowns in the last 12 months, reported pet thefts have soared in the UK.
According to the charity Doglost, there was a 170% increase in incidents of pets being stolen between 2019 and 2020. In addition, perhaps the most high-profile story so far involving Lady Gaga’s dog walker getting shot broke at the end of last month. Thus, it has been claimed that the home security threat posed by pet thefts might not be slowing down in 2021.
Stay at home orders and repeated lockdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic have led to many households seeking domestic animals to keep them company. Demand has subsequently skyrocketed, with prices for dogs especially seeing the highest increases. As a result, it has been with these pets that reports of theft have risen the most seriously throughout the UK.
Home security crisis?
Whilst the growing number of pet theft incidences as well as the horrific nature of some isolated instances are of some concern, there are measures you can take to minimise the danger to your home security. Firstly, there were still less than 500 reports of animal theft made last year. So even if that figure rises in 2021 the risk can be limited fairly easily.
There have also been responses by both the police and government officials. The former has guided people to take into account online security and to be mindful of social media. They explained that posting photos with your pets on the internet could make cybercriminals aware of their location, compromising their physical security and making them susceptible to theft.
Meanwhile, some members of the government have supposedly been in talks to make pet theft a more serious offence, with more penalties, fines, and jail sentences being implemented. The maximum punishment for this crime is currently set at 7 years in prison.
You can find more on the latest Home Security News Here.
