POLICE are investigating after a group of men tried to steal a dog while it was being walked by its owner in broad daylight.

The 32-year-old owner was walking his dachshund Chapo along Lansdowne Road in Bournemouth at around 5pm on Monday when someone started yelling at him "that's my dog".

A pick-up truck halted to a stop near to Lansdowne Roundabout and one of the men jumped out of the truck and moved towards the owner and his dog.

At this point the owner picked up Chapo and started to yell for help.

The man ran back towards the truck which then drove off.

A Dorset Police spokesman has confirmed that an attempted theft was reported along Lansdowne Road, Bournemouth, just before 7.45pm on Monday.