Data from the Metropolitan Police reveals the number of reported stolen animals in every London borough since January 2012.
From February 2014 to February 2024, a total of 353 stolen animal reports were made in Croydon, the most in any south London borough.
Croydon is the third-highest London borough with Barking & Dagenham at the top with 1,293 reports and Hillingdon in west London with 428 reports.
The greatest number of animals stolen in Croydon were dogs.
Over 10 years, 160 dogs were reported stolen.
The second greatest were fish, with 91 reported stolen.
The third greatest were cats, with 48 reports of stolen cats.
29 birds and 21 mammals, excluding dogs and cats, were reported stolen.
Croydon police even had to deal with four reports of stolen reptiles.
Of these stolen animals, only five per cent have been recovered, with just 18 of the 353 animals recovered.
200 of these animals were classified as theft and handling, meaning the stolen animals were not only taken but also involved in illegal activities, such as being sold or kept by people who knew they were stolen.
136 of them were classified as being burgled, meaning the animals were stolen when thieves unlawfully entered a building.
Nine of them were classified as robbery, meaning the animals were stolen through force or threats.
The remaining eight were classified as other offences, such as the illegal sale or trafficking of stolen animals.
Between February 2014 and February 2024, March 2021 stood out as the peak month for animal thefts, with a staggering 84 animals reported stolen in that month alone.
