THE number of dog abduction offences recorded last year in Devon and Cornwall has been revealed by a Freedom of Information (FOI) request.

Twenty four offences under the Pet Abduction Act 2024 were recorded by Devon & Cornwall Police in 2025, the FOI request shows.

The Pet Abduction Act created specific offences for dog and cat abduction in England.

Under the Act, anyone found guilty of stealing a pet will face up to five years in prison, a fine, or both.

Evidence from the Pet Theft Taskforce suggests around 2,000 dog theft crimes were reported to police in 2020

With an estimated 28 per cent of UK adults owning a dog, theft is a major concern to the public.