Six people have been released on police bail following an operation by Suffolk Constabulary, which saw 80 suspected stolen dogs recovered from the West Meadows travellers’ site in Ipswich.
Officers spent at least ten hours at the site on Saturday 20th March and recovered 83 dogs of various breeds and ages, which investigators believe to have been stolen.
A 38-year-old man, two 34-year-old men and three women aged 46, 41 and 35 were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to steal following the operation.
They were all taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre for questioning and have subsequently been released on bail until Friday, 16 April, pending further enquiries.
The operation comes following a dramatic rise in the number of family pets being stolen, which are then sold on buyers.
A spokesperson for Suffolk Constabulary said that the force has been ‘working hard to identify the dogs’ owners, primarily through the use of scanning them for microchips in the first instance’.
The force has been working with other police forces as investigators believe that many of the dogs have been stolen from outside of Suffolk.
The spokesperson added:
‘Detectives would like to reassure all those people who have contacted Suffolk Police today to enquire as to whether their dog has been recovered that investigators will acknowledge everyone’s call or email if it has not been already.
‘Officers are aware that many people will be anxious to know if their dog has been recovered and politely ask for victims to bear with them as they expedite these enquiries.
‘Anyone who may have information regarding dog thefts is asked to contact South CID at Landmark House in Ipswich, quoting reference: 13719/21’.
For more advice on buying a dog, visit the RSPCA’s website.
Featured image credit: Google Maps.
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Released on bail? How many do they expect to turn up when required? Imaginary names and addresses? we’ll see.
A lot of police forces don’t even bother to tackle travellers because it’s too time consuming. No further action is usually the result because they can’t find them.
Doing a ‘follow-up’ on behalf of another force, at a semi-permanent site on the cusp of my patch and as the ‘known and acceptable face’…. Went to the Chief to enquire after the “bailed” no-show ‘Brien Fury’….. “Noow Sorr, wida noime loik Brien Fury, wud dis man be an Oirishman by chance ?” . . Quite possibly I answered ~ “Well dare ye ar Sorr, Dares No Oirishmen on dis soite attall . . ( alwaystempted to add ~ attall, attall ).
At least we Both laughed ‘loik’ drains as it was a game too frequently played.