Dorset Police news site

Officers investigating a reported rural burglary in North Dorset are appealing for witnesses and issuing an image of stolen puppies they are trying to locate.

It was reported that between 10.50pm and 11.10pm on Saturday 28 December 2024 entry was gained to a building in the Shroton area and seven Lurcher puppies were stolen from inside.

Officers have arrested a 28-year-old man from East Dorset and a 22-year-old woman from Wimborne on suspicion of burglary and enquiries to locate the dogs are ongoing.

Police Constable Sebastian Haggett, of Dorset Police’s Rural Crime Team, said: “I am keen to hear from anyone who witnessed suspicious activity in the area, as well as nearby residents with doorbell or CCTV cameras or motorists with dashcam who were driving in the area and may have captured relevant footage.

“We are particularly interested in the activity of a white Audi A1 that was seen in the vicinity.

“Finally, we are sharing a photograph of the Lurcher puppies in the hope someone may recognise them and would urge anyone who may have seen them for sale locally in unusual circumstances, or has any information about their whereabouts, to urgently contact Dorset Police.

“These puppies are only five weeks old and are still reliant on their mother to feed and survive so we are keen to reunite them. The family involved in this reported theft are devastated and we wish to do all we can to get these family pets home."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55240197969. Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously online at Crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling Freephone 0800 555 111.