MORE than 10 animals are stolen in Northern Ireland every day, new police records reveal.
A total of 18,770 animals, including both livestock and household pets, were reported to the PSNI as stolen in the past five years.
The huge figure is the equivalent of more than 312 animals every month – or one almost every two hours.
Sheep are the animal most commonly stolen in the north, making up more than a third of all thefts reported.
Dog thefts outstripped most police forces in England and Wales with more than 900 pooches stolen.
Police recorded more than 1,800 individual thefts of animals in the past five years.
However, charges were brought by the PSNI in only 19 cases – just over one per cent.
Sylvia Tabor, chair of the charity Dog Theft Action, said she was "absolutely appalled" by the figures, describing them as "exceptionally high".
Calling for greater action to catch dog thieves, she added: "It needs to be more robust – there has got to be more of a deterrent."
Ms Tabor said the English-based charity experienced an surge in reports of dog thefts over the Christmas period, with terriers and chihuahuas currently popular targets.
She told how in one case a 10-year-old boy had his dog snatched from him on the street by a passer-by as he waited for his family outside a supermarket.
"The reasons dogs are stolen, either they're sold on, they're used for breeding or thieves hold the owner to ransom and get money that way," she said.
"And in rare cases the worst thing is certain dogs being used for dog-fighting."
Ms Tabor urged dog owners to have their pets microchipped and to keep their details updated.
The police animal theft figures between 2010 and 2014 were obtained by The Irish News through a freedom of information request.
The number of animals reported stolen peaked at more than 4,600 in 2011 but fell year on year to almost 2,700 in 2014.
But most individual thefts happened in 2013, with police recording more than 460 incidents.
The largest quantity of animals reported stolen in a single theft was 2,000 rainbow trout in 2011.
Almost 3,400 cattle were reported to the PSNI as stolen in a total of 845 thefts over the past five years.
Ulster Farmers' Union deputy president Barclay Bell expressed concern over the livestock theft figures.
"This is a shocking statistic and reiterates the need for secure housing of livestock over the winter months," he said.
Mr Barclay said that while there is no 'quick fix' to tackling livestock theft, there should be more action from police to treat it as a serious offence.
He added: "I would urge farmers to be proactive in tackling crime. If you see suspicious behaviour or suspicious vehicles, please contact the PSNI as soon as possible."
