Heartless thieves ransack South Manchester home to steal TV, laptop... and pregnant pedigree dog and puppy

PEDIGREE: Shar Pei dogs stolen

By Dean Wilkins

A pregnant pedigree dog and puppy were stolen by heartless thieves in a targeted attack in South Manchester on Friday.

A TV, laptop and two pedigree Shar Pei dogs worth up to £6,000 were taken from the owner’s home and police are appealing to the public to help find where the dogs are being held captive.

The thieves are thought to have scaled the house on Sunbank Lane, Ringway, before forcing their way through an upstairs window and ransacking the home.

Detective Constable Mark Atkinson said: "Anyone who owns or loves pets will share the anguish the owners of Kiara and Saffina are feeling at the moment. This is not about how much the two dogs are worth in monetary terms, but about having two much-loved members of their family snatched by some heartless thieves.

"[The dogs] are likely to be distressed at having been taken from their home so I would also ask people who may hear barking at a neighbouring property which you know does not normally have dogs to check and see whether Kiara and Saffina are being held captive there."

Kiara, who is two-and-a-half years old, is due to give birth to eight puppies sometime in the next two weeks. Each puppy is worth up to £500.

The second dog is a one-year-old puppy called Saffina.

Police are now appealing to anyone with information to come forward.

Detective Constable Atkison added: "Clearly it is absolutely gut-wrenching for this family who are desperate for their safe return.

"Finally, I would like to make an appeal to the thieves themselves and hope that somehow it pricks their conscience. Do you know the upset you have caused this family? Do you have the proper knowledge of how to care for eight puppies of this breed and ensure they and their mother are healthy and are not at risk? You have stolen something absolutely precious to this family so do the decent thing and return these two dogs safely."

Anyone with information should call police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

For more on this story and many others, follow Mancunian Matters on Twitter and Facebook.