Six cocker spaniels stolen in North Devon

Three separate incidents across two days - and one dog is dead

Five spaniels are missing, and one dog is dead - in a series of unusual and upsetting thefts in North Devon.

On Friday 15 December, three pedigree cocker spaniels were stolen from a kennels in the Square in North Molton. One is a small female seven-year-old black Devonshire Faith spaniel, one is an 18-month-old black Hillside Harriet female with a white bib, and one is a gold Badgeberry Troufseau Hope spaniel. 

The second incident was at a residential property in Oakford Close that evening between 7pm and 9pm. A cocker spaniel called Ivy was taken from the rear garden from her kennel. She was found dead the following morning at Bommerton Cross.

Then on Sunday 17 December, a female chocolate brown cocker spaniel and a female black and white spaniel were reported missing from  the Rose Ash area of South Molton.

Investigating Officer PC Steve Theobald says: “The owners are all understandably shocked and upset by this. Enquiries are ongoing to locate the suspects and we are currently looking through CCTV.

“We would urge anyone who knows anything to get in touch with police immediately. We are also advising dog owners to be vigilant, especially those with Cocker spaniel breeds, and to make sure their dogs are safe and secure and to report any suspicious activity to police.

You can contact the police by emailing 101@dc.police.uk or by calling 101 quoting CR/108644/1, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.