UK areas with the most reported dog thefts and 4 most stolen breeds

The UK is a nation of dog lovers, with many of us getting a pet to look after and for them to keep us company. However, some areas in the UK are more prone to dog theft than others.

Research from SEO Backlinks has reviewed the latest police force dog theft figures and compared each hotspot with the previous year to determine where reports are still highest and where they are rising the most. The rankings should be read as a police-force report ranking rather than a county-by-county risk rate.

The figures suggest a staggering 1,626 dogs were reported stolen across the UK in 2025. This is equal to around four a day.

Sadly, only around 344 were recovered, meaning nearly four in five stolen dogs did not return home.

Breed data also shows why owners of certain pets may be especially anxious. French Bulldogs were the most stolen recorded breed in 2025, followed by Staffordshire Bull Terriers, crossbreeds, English Bulldogs and German Shepherds.

Which UK areas had the most dog thefts?

The Metropolitan Police area recorded the most dog theft reports in the UK last year, with 214 dogs reported stolen in 2025. The Metropolitan Police cover services for the Greater London area (excluding the City of London) and its 8.6 million residents.

Meanwhile, Lancashire stands out as the sharpest mover in the top 10, with reports rising from an estimated 41 in 2024 to 107 in 2025. Hertfordshire and Humberside also saw large annual increases.

Kent remained among the worst-hit areas despite a fall from 152 to 109 reports. West Yorkshire was almost unchanged year on year, with 114 reported stolen dogs in 2025 compared with 113 in 2024.

The top 10 police areas for reported dog thefts in 2025 were:

• Metropolitan Police, 214 reported stolen dogs, down 10% from 2024
• West Yorkshire, 114 reported stolen dogs, up 1%
• Kent, 109 reported stolen dogs, down 28%
• Lancashire, 107 reported stolen dogs, up 161%
• Northumbria, 68 reported stolen dogs, up 10%
• Thames Valley, 62 reported stolen dogs, down 9%
• Hertfordshire, 56 reported stolen dogs, up 60%
• Police Scotland, 53 reported stolen dogs, down 64%
• Humberside, 50 reported stolen dogs, up 43%
• Hampshire, 49 reported stolen dogs, down 9%

The figures follow the Pet Abduction Act coming into force in England and Northern Ireland in 2024, which made pet theft a specific criminal offence. However, the law does not remove the day-to-day need for owners to keep records, microchip details and local alerts up to date.

Owners are also being urged not to leave dogs tied up outside shops, unattended in vehicles or visible in unsecured gardens. GPS trackers, locked gates, varied walking routes, and quick reporting to police and microchip databases can all help reduce the risk of dog theft.