Marks on driveway spark fears of a new crime
December 17, 2014 | Business Crime
Lookouts are leaving 'K' code in crayon or spray paint after finding dogs
The Daily Mail writes:
"Sophisticated gangs of thieves prowling Britain's streets to steal dogs to order are identifying their victims - by daubing the letter 'K' on their driveways, police revealed yesterday.
Lookouts are leaving the 'K' code in crayon or spray paint after finding valuable dogs worth stealing and selling in unwitting owners' gardens in the Alsager area, north of Stoke-on-Trent, Cheshire.
The burglars then return later and take the animals in a online black market trade that is said to be earning criminal gangs hundreds of thousands of pounds.
At risk: The online black market trade of dogs that have been stolen from gardens is said to be netting criminal gangs hundreds of thousands of pounds (file picture)
The latest incidents of the 'K' code - believed to be a play on the word 'Canine' - were highlighted by Cheshire Police officers who are investigating thefts in Alsager.
Gangs are stealing either pedigree dogs to sell to unwitting buyers online or mutts they can use in illegal dog fights. Pedigree dogs are sold on the black market for up to £2,000 each.
Experts say an estimated 3,500 thefts were reported in the UK last year - an increase of around 17 per cent on the previous 12 months.
Now police are urging residents to watch out for the letter 'K' daubed on driveways, people looking in gardens or asking questions about individual dog owners.
Cheshire Police Detective Sergeant Chris Pyatt said: ‘We have seen these types of markings placed outside houses before."
This crime may have made an appearance in NZ. Kelly Dennett of Stuff reports:
Suggestions that dog fighting rings are operating in West Auckland have been labelled as sensationalist by critics.
Animal advocacy group Paw Justice has mounted a campaign with singer Tiki Taane to raise awareness about dog fighting.
They allege dog thieves are operating throughout Auckland supplying dog fighting rings with bait and fighting dogs.
Paw Justice co-founder Craig Dunn says support teams spray paint driveways to mark homes with a specific breed and size of dog.
Green Bay resident Nina Pivac contacted the Western Leader after finding markings on her neighbour's driveway and fence on Avonleigh Rd.
The spray paint marks were simple vertical stripes but in neighbouring streets she found paw-print shaped marks.
Avondale police told the neighbours to remove the markings and any suggestions a dog was living there immediately.
However Waitakere area commander Rod Fraser says there is no evidence dog thieves are operating in the area.
"There are several reasons why spray paint marks can appear on the footpath and we are aware that contractors are currently laying cable for high speed data in the West Auckland area," he says.
SPCA executive director Bob Kerridge says it's irresponsible to suggest to owners of missing dog that their pets had been taken for dog fighting.
"I think it has been blown out of proportion.
"Dog fighting is not as prevalant as has been suggested. We're getting fewer pieces of information about dog theft from the public than we used to," he says.
Paw Justice says people still need to be vigilant.
Mr Dunn has been investigating dog fighting for years and says dog thefts aren't on police radar because victims of dog theft wouldn't typically report it to police.
"There's only two people you would call if your dog went missing - the dog shelter or the pound. You're not ringing the police."
Suggestions that dog fighting rings are operating in West Auckland have been labelled as sensationalist by critics.
Animal advocacy group Paw Justice has mounted a campaign with singer Tiki Taane to raise awareness about dog fighting.
They allege dog thieves are operating throughout Auckland supplying dog fighting rings with bait and fighting dogs.
Paw Justice co-founder Craig Dunn says support teams spray paint driveways to mark homes with a specific breed and size of dog.
Green Bay resident Nina Pivac contacted the Western Leader after finding markings on her neighbour's driveway and fence on Avonleigh Rd.
The spray paint marks were simple vertical stripes but in neighbouring streets she found paw-print shaped marks.
Avondale police told the neighbours to remove the markings and any suggestions a dog was living there immediately.
However Waitakere area commander Rod Fraser says there is no evidence dog thieves are operating in the area.
"There are several reasons why spray paint marks can appear on the footpath and we are aware that contractors are currently laying cable for high speed data in the West Auckland area," he says.
SPCA executive director Bob Kerridge says it's irresponsible to suggest to owners of missing dog that their pets had been taken for dog fighting.
"I think it has been blown out of proportion.
"Dog fighting is not as prevalant as has been suggested. We're getting fewer pieces of information about dog theft from the public than we used to," he says.
Paw Justice says people still need to be vigilant.
Mr Dunn has been investigating dog fighting for years and says dog thefts aren't on police radar because victims of dog theft wouldn't typically report it to police.
"There's only two people you would call if your dog went missing - the dog shelter or the pound. You're not ringing the police."
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