Man punched during attempted dognapping incident

Police are appealing for witnesses following the incident.

On Sunday, April 25, around 10.40pm, the man was walking his dog down Sopworth Road.

A silver Ford Transit van then pulled up alongside him and asked if his dog was for sale.

When the victim declined, a man got out of the van and proceeded to punch him to the face.

Thankfully, the victim, in his forties, managed to run away, taking the dog with him.

However, he did suffer bruising and swelling to his eye.

The suspect is described as a white man, around 40 years old, wearing a black jacket, a black woolly hat and a black facemask.

He spoke with an Irish accent.

PC Mike Croxford, from the Chippenham Area Community Policing Team, said: “We know there is a lot of community concern around dog thefts and I want to reassure the public that we are carrying out detailed enquiries.

“Wiltshire Police has recently appointed designated officers and staff to assist with incidents of dog thefts, so they will be providing support for this investigation and carrying out additional intelligence work.

“I am urging anyone with information, including anyone who may recognise the description of the suspect or the van, to come forward.”

If you can help please call PC Croxford on 101, quoting crime reference 54210039033. Alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Spate of incidents

The Luckington incident is one of many attempted dognapping scares in Wiltshire.

In Corsham, a woman was out walking her dog near the alleyway between Priory Street and Charles Street, at around 4.30pm on Thursday, March 25 when an unknown man and woman approached and engaged her in conversation. 

The suspects

The woman suspect then tried to grab the dog; the owner managed to fight her off but was punched in the head by the perpetrator before the couple ran off empty handed. 

Also in March,  an elderly man walking his dogs in Savernake Forest had to fend off two men trying to steal his dogs.

“I was walking the dogs as normal as I do most days twice a day. I parked up, let the dogs out and locked the car and walked on along the path. About three quarters of the way along I see two men, scruffily dressed,” Archie Rawlings told the BBC.

Last winter, police issued a warning that a group of men were travelling around the eastern part of Wiltshire attempting to steal pet dogs.

A green/silver coloured Suzuki 4×4 – possibly a Vitara model – was seen driving around the Shalbourne, Bedwyn, Bagshot and Hungerford areas.

The occupants were attempting to take dogs from kennels, gardens and back yards of addresses.

In December, police said they had received 26 reports of theft, attempted theft and/or suspicious activity that could lead to attempted theft of dogs.