THE growing menace of dog thefts is being highlighted by MPs in an attempt to introduce tougher legislation to fight the problem.

Nationally more than 60 dogs a week are stolen from gardens, parks, kennels, outside shops and cars.

In North Yorkshire alone figures show the number of dog thefts is growing steadily. In 2011/12 there were eight reported thefts, 25 in 2014/15 and 17 last year. Of the 75 crimes recorded over the last five years only ten dogs were recovered.

Richmond’s Tory MP Rishi Sunak said: "Dog theft is a cruel crime which causes great distress to owners and their dogs.

"Nationally, the incidence of dog theft has risen by 24 per cent in the last three years and no dog owner is safe from the crime which hits families, the elderly, and the disabled.

“Tougher sentences, better detection and compulsory scanning of microchips could all help bring this down.”

He added: "At the moment there is no specific crime of dog theft and so if it does reach court, a well-loved dog which is a family member, is treated like any other chattel such as a TV or mobile phone. Some forces do record the theft as dog theft, whereas others are not as specific."

Along with 50 other MPs, Mr Sunak backed the plea of the Stolen and Missing Pets Alliance for tougher sentencing guidelines for dog theft in the hope the threat of imprisonment will act as a deterrent to criminals.

SAMPA has also called for vets to be encouraged to carried out more routine screening of dog microchips and checking of registrations to ensure pet and owner match.