A question appeared on our village page this morning.
Has anyone had a fish van called today? Alec's fisheries. I'm not sure if they were genuine or safe having now just looked online.
Some replies.
Just had a search on Facebook and apparently they’re not genuine. Knock on doors and mark your house if you have a dog. Here‘s some screenshots.
These comments came from another village miles away from here, so beware, criminals will travel anywhere to get what they want. Apparently they are selling fish from the van, but they have a lucrative sideline, marking your frontage to direct the dog nappers to your premises. Keep your dogs safe.
Catch ya later. ilona
Whatever next are we going to have to contend with. We had a man come to our door some time ago saying he wanted the money back for a lawnmower that was not working that he got from us via Ebay. He did not bargain for me coming to the door. When I questioned him (we did not possess a lawnmower) he could not answer me and he signalled to his accomplish who must have been trying to get round the back of our property to carry on. I think he was trying to see if we had memory problems and would fall for his scam. Despicable.
ReplyDeleteThanks for that story. It's important to keep all your doors locked all the time, even if you are in the house. And don't answer the door to strangers.
DeleteGood grief, how low folks can sink.
ReplyDeleteWhat do the dog nappers do with dogs, sorry to be so ignorant/innocent?
They sell them on, or breed from them and sell the puppies Then throw out the bitch when they have finished with her. This is why you should never buy a dog from a back street breeder. I know someone who bought two dogs from someone in a pub car park. The dogs were in poor condition, and they felt sorry for them, so they handed over the cash. The wrong thing to do, it was easy money for the crooks, so they do it again.
DeleteOften dognapping victims wind up being used as bait dogs in dog fights. Gentle family pets used as toys by pitbulls.
DeleteOr perhaps burglers scouting which places have animals that might give a bark to alert homeowners??
ReplyDeleteBad news all around!!
Any strangers approaching a private residence should be seen as possible criminals. Many houses in my village have cameras installed at their front doors, and up side entrances.
DeleteAlternatively, they could be checking if someone has a dog or not with a view to carrying out a burglary in the future and a house with a barking dog would be too much trouble.
ReplyDeleteIt's possible.
DeleteYes, a lovely sharpei dog local to us was lost after being attacked in a park almost two years ago (Facebook group 'help find nala'). The owners who have young children, are devastated. Apparently dogs have been disappearing from the Glasgow area and turning up in Birmingham. But sadly Nala hasn't been found. Please have a look at her Facebook page, especially if you live in Birmingham. Thanks Ilona for highlighting this :)
ReplyDeleteSue from A Smaller and Simpler Life had her dog stolen a few years ago. It turned up in Norfolk if I remember right, having had puppies, then turfed out onto the street. Thankfully it was chipped and she got it back.
DeleteIt was so good that she got her back. Nala is chipped too, she is neutered, and there is a £4500 reward for information leading to her return.
DeleteAll this news is terrible. I am in USA and haven't heard of this happening in my area. We'll have to Google it and see. This is so sad. One of these days they're going to get shot by a homeowner and learn their lesson. That's probably what it will take. So sad. Stay safe everyone. We're waiting for the same lockdown you guys are in now to come here to USA.
ReplyDeleteDog napping happens a lot in the UK, because the business is very lucrative. A few months of shutting a dog in a cage, getting it pregnant, feeding it very little, removing the puppies before they should be, and kicking the bitch out.
DeleteThis is so sinister and awful, hope everyone's dogs will be ok, these people are scum.
ReplyDeleteScum indeed. The dregs of the earth.
DeleteA few years ago in a town near us dogs were being stolen and used to train fighting dogs, absolutely horrific.
ReplyDeleteI understand that due to lockdown the price of a dog has significantly increased and theres a huge demand for dogs. My dog cost £400 from a reputable breeder 5 and a half years ago. The same breed is now £3000. Hence all the dog stealing.
I'm sure that when we get some normality back the rehoming centres will be overrun.
I would add that I did look around all the rehoming centres when I got my dog and I really did want to get one, but there was limited supplies of small non shedding dogs.
That price is about right. Thousands can be made. Think about it, five puppies at £3000 each. Easy money.
DeleteBut are they Dog-Nappers? or are they marking homes where there are dogs, so thieves won't try to break in where they might get caught?
ReplyDeletePossible. But no one should be complacent and think it will never happen to them.
DeleteThe thing is,if these people are caught there is nothing done!!.Instead of building new houses on every bit of green space in the UK,they should start building a few more prisons to bang them up for a very long time.Myself..I would just get rid of them.There are some evil people about that dont deserve to breath the same air as us.xx
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately we have this sort of thing posted on our local site and I am way down from you in North Essex/Suffolk. Same story, selling fish.
ReplyDelete