Police quash 'dog napper' rumours (From Southend Standard)

Police quash 'dog napper' rumours

11:59am Tuesday 12th March 2013 in Echo News

POLICE have moved to quash rumours that dog-nappers are operating in Leigh.

It comes after comments appeared on social networking Twitter saying that pets were being stolen.

Several people had become concerned about collectors for Battersea Dogs Home who they feared were bogus.

They were operating in the Lymington Avenue and Torquay Drive area and some people feared they were scoping out their homes to see if they had pets. One even said that two dogs had been stolen.

Insp Brad Dickel, of Leigh police, said: “We have checked with Battersea Dogs Home and they are fundraising in the area.

“They use this method, calling at doors, as a genuine method to raise cash.” He said that the reports had not been malicious and people genuinely feared something was amiss. "

He urged people not to be put off calling police if they are worried about any suspicious behaviour in their area.