POLICE in North Dorset have urged dog owners in the area to “remain vigilant” following a reported dog theft attempted on Sunday.

A woman was walking her puppy, who was off the lead, at Sturminster Newton Recreation Ground on February 28 when a child, who was in the company of two men, was seen attempting to call the dog over.

After putting the dog back on its lead, the young boy made a number of attempts to snatch the lead from the women’s grasp before being beckoned by the two men.

Dorset Police said the event was reported to the force as a suspicious incident, but officers are carrying out further enquiries to try and establish the intentions of the young boy involved, which could be completely innocent.

A spokesman from North Dorset Police said: “On Sunday February 28 at 12.15pm a woman was walking her puppy, which was not on a lead, in the recreation ground off of Rickets Lane when she was approached by a young boy.

“The boy was calling the puppy over, which the woman thought nothing of as lots of people stop to stroke her dog.

“She put the puppy on the lead. The young boy then made attempts to pull the lead from the woman’s hand.

“During the incident, it is reported that the boy kept looking behind him at two men. On the third time of the boy trying to pull the lead from her she shouted ‘NO’ and he was called away by the men.

“This could be a completely innocent incident where a young boy just wanted to play with the puppy. However, we would like to take this opportunity to remind dog owners to remain vigilant.

“If you have any information regarding this incident please email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or contact us online at www.dorset.police.uk/do-it-online, quoting Occurrence 55210033938.”