Then at around 12.50am on Saturday, uniformed gardaí on patrol in Ballyjamesduff came across the vehicle and attempted to stop it. It is understood that the criminal gang had gotten spooked because both the gardaí and the dog owner had obtained the registration of the vehicle. Gardaí have highlighted the growing problem of dog theft, which is proving to be extremely lucrative for gangs, and they have outlined six key “tips to beat dog thieves”. These include getting your dog microchipped if not already done; keep your dog in sight; consider installing CCTV; don’t tie up your dog; report theft immediately; and buy from a trusted source. Minister McEntee stated that information has been disseminated to the Crime Prevention Officers Network countrywide specifically dealing with the topic of dog thefts.

Source: Irish Independent March 31, 2021 05:15 UTC