A mother of one spoke about the moment she was held in her own home for a litter of puppies that were stolen in front of her eyes.
Samantha Stewart, 25, was threatened with a knife at her home in Kings Norton, Birmingham after masked intruders came through the property’s back door.
All she could do was watch as the five English Bulldog pups, every four weeks old, were taken and her beloved dog, Polly, the pups’ mother, was kicked in the head.
Samantha Stewart (pictured) was threatened with a knife at her Birmingham home
The two intruders stole through the back door of the house, and a third perpetrator waited on the other side of the fence to collect the pups.
The incident came days after the pups were listed for sale on Facebook for between £ 3,000 and £ 4,000.
Ms. Stewart told Birmingham Live that she was rocked by the incident and that Polly is now crying for her pups and “devastated” by their loss.
The pups were caught around 10:20 am when Ms. Stewart returned from her daughter’s school.
“I went back in, I locked my door, I went straight through my house to the back door,” she said. “I opened the back door and the dog ran into the back garden.
“I came back to make coffee and saw something move out of the corner of my eye. When I turned around there were two [men] in my kitchen, with masks.
The five puppies, then just four weeks old, were kidnapped by three perpetrators on June 10th
The pups hadn’t even been named when they were stolen from their Birmingham home
‘One of them shouted:’ Give me the puppies, shut up. ‘ He grabbed me, got the knife, and called my cell phone.
“The knife wasn’t far from me, I kind of threw the phone. I just wanted her to go, there was nothing else for her.
‘The dog cage was in the kitchen and [the second man] had just leaned forward. The dog (Polly) went after the smaller boy and when she went after him he kicked her in the face, she just ran after me.
“I thought it was just the two boys, but my neighbors came out and saw the two boys in my yard take the pups over the fence to the other boy, who put them in his pocket.
The mother of one child said she was shocked by the incident that occurred on June 10th
“Then they ran down Druids Lane towards Walker’s Heath Park and walked through to the top of the fold.
‘It was horrific. I trembled after that. I felt sick, I couldn’t sleep. I was scared. I’ve never been in this situation in my life. ‘
In the course of the lockdown, dog thefts have increased by almost a fifth.
Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Chihuahuas, and Cocker Spaniels are among the most desirable breeds targeted by Dognappers looking to make money during the pandemic.
Last month, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that his administration was considering harsh penalties for thieves or people who leave their pets behind.
Plans to prosecute people under the Animal Welfare Act in lieu of the Theft Act 1968 are being considered.
Ministers are expected to believe that this change means that “the emotional bond between owners and their pets” is being considered in more cases.
West Midlands Police have opened an investigation into the June 10 incident.
Samantha Stewart (pictured) said she had trouble sleeping and felt sick after the incident
In a public appeal, the troupe wrote: “We know that two men entered the property before threatening a woman with a knife and taking her phone along with five of a friend’s bulldogs.
“This is understandably a traumatic experience for both the victim and the owner of the dogs.
“Our investigation is still in its infancy and we ask anyone who has information or who has observed the incident to contact us as soon as possible. Please provide the crime number 20/1036621/21. ‘