The breed is the ‘most misunderstood’ in Britain, RSPCA said
(Picture: Shutterstock)Staffordshire bull terriers are the most stolen dog across London, Metropolitan Police figures reveal.
A total of 496 out of 3,102 stolen dogs across the capital in the last decade were Staffordshire bull terriers.
Police records cover the period between January 2012 and November 2022.
The second most likely dog breed to be stolen in London is the Chihuahua, with 209 nabbed in the last decade, followed by Staffordshire bull terrier crosses, of which 142 were recorded stolen in the same period.
Thirty-seven Staffordshire bull terriers were stolen this year alone.
But American bulldogs were the dog of choice among thieves in 2022 - with 47 recorded as stolen - followed by French bulldogs, of which 36 were taken.
Other breeds to be stolen this year include Chihuahua, Jack Russell, Cocker Spaniel, German Shepherd and Yorkshire terriers.
Across the last 10 years, the most stolen dogs of any London borough - 170 - were recorded in Croydon.
Bromley is close behind with 144 stolen dogs recorded between 2012 and 2022, and 133 in Enfield.
RSPCA said Staffies are “definitely Britain’s most misunderstood breed”.
The rescue charity said they are often taken on as “status dogs” and can be found at the centre of anti-social behaviour due to the way in which they’ve been reared and trained.
But given the right home and care, “Staffies can make absolutely wonderful family pets”, RSPCA said.
Following Covid lockdowns, it was reported that the number of pet dogs stolen in London increased by more than 75 per cent in four years, with brazen thieves even carrying out daylight burglaries just to snatch pedigree pooches bought in lockdown.
Of the 358 dogs stolen this year, just 32 were recovered, including Joel Banks’ dog Ghost.
The Londoner had his Staffordshire bull terrier cross stolen as he was loaded into an ambulance. Mr Banks, 33, was walking Ghost when he suddenly collapsed in the street in November.
During this, two thieves allegedly told medics they knew him and would look after Ghost, but instead sold him, Metro reported.
A man who bought Ghost saw headlines about him being stolen, and got in touch with Mr Banks and he was reunited with his beloved pet.
Similarly Kat Conway was rushed to hospital after having a heart attack outside the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel on June 6.
According to the charity DogLost, Ms Conway’s rescue Shih Tzu mix dog Jessie was believed to be stolen by a man who came to her aid.
Four days later on June 10, Jessie was found “with a man on a train in Wigan,” the charity, which reunites lost dogs with their owners, said.
The train conductor had noticed the advert and reported the man to the police.
Earlier this year RSPCA warned that a spike in dog thefts was “incredibly worrying” and called for stronger sentences for criminals.
The RSPCA said: “We believe there should be strong sentences for these types of crimes that recognise that having a pet stolen is not like having a car or a TV stolen.
“Our pets are beloved family members and sentences for pet thieves should reflect the distress caused to pets and their owners when they’re taken.”
