Stats obtained from the Metropolitan Police have shown that 597 animals were illegally taken in the 12 months from March 2023 – down from the 1,650 logged in 2022-23.
Across the capital, dogs were the most frequently stolen pet, with 309 taken. This is followed by 164 cat thefts and 124 stolen birds.
When boroughs are broken down, there is a huge discrepancy as to which animals are stolen and where, with 115 offences being logged in Hounslow – far more than anywhere else.
The Standard has approached the Met for comment.
Here is the full borough by borough breakdown.
Most stolen pets in each London borough
Barking and Dagenham – 13 animals stolen
Barnet – 22 animals stolen
Thirteen cats, six dogs and three other mammals were taken.
Bexley – 12 animals stolen
Ten dogs were stolen, as were one cat and one other mammal.
Brent – 40 animals stolen
Brent saw 25 birds, eight dogs and seven cats taken.
Bromley – 27 animals stolen
In Bromley it was a similar story, with 11 dogs, four cats and two reptiles stolen – as were 10 mammals.
Camden – 15 animals stolen
In Camden, 10 dogs and five cats were nicked.
Croydon – 27 animals stolen
Further south, Croydon saw 11 dogs stolen, and 10 fish, four cats and two reptiles.
Ealing – 20 animals stolen
Cats were the most popular item to steal in Ealing with 10 taken, as well as eight dogs, one bird and one reptile.
Enfield – 19 animals stolen
Eleven dogs were taken, as were eight cats.
Greenwich – 16 animals stolen
In the south-eastern borough, 12 dogs, three cats and one reptile were stolen.
Hackney – 15 animals stolen
Hackney had reports of eight dogs and seven cats taken.
Hammersmith and Fulham – Nine animals stolen
On the west side, eight dogs and one cat were stolen.
Haringey – 14 animals stolen
Ten dogs and four cats were taken in Haringey.
Harrow – Six animals stolen
Harrow has the lowest number of thefts in London, with four dogs and two cats.
Havering – 14 animals stolen
Fourteen were stolen in the eastern-most borough, of which eight were dogs, three were mammals, two were cats and one was a reptile.
Hillingdon – 16 animals stolen
Nine dogs, four fish, two mammals and one cat were taken.
Hounslow – 115 animals stolen
By far the largest figure. In Hounslow, 95 birds were stolen as were 13 dogs, five cats and one mammal.
Islington – 33 animals stolen
In Islington, there were 23 cat thefts, nine dog thefts and one other mammal.
Kensington and Chelsea – Eight animals stolen
There were six dogs and two cats taken in Kensington and Chelsea.
Kingston upon Thames – Seven animals stolen
In the far south-west, five dogs and two cats were stolen.
Lambeth – 25 animals stolen
In Lambeth, there were 21 dog thefts and four cats.
Lewisham – 22 animals stolen
Thirteen dogs, eight cats and, unusually, one arachnid (the spider family) were taken.
Merton – 17 animals stolen
In Merton, there were nine dogs, three cats, two birds, two fish, and one mammal stolen.
Newham – 16 animals stolen
In Newham, 12 dogs and four cats were stolen.
Redbridge – 20 animals stolen
Twelve dogs, seven cats and one mammal were taken.
Richmond upon Thames – Nine animals stolen
Five dogs, three cats and one mammal were stolen here.
Southwark – 22 animals stolen
There were thefts of 15 dogs, four cats and three mammals in Southwalk.
Sutton – 20 animals stolen
In Sutton, 10 mammals, five cats, and five dogs were taken.
Tower Hamlets – 21 animals stolen
Seventeen dogs were stolen but there were also three cats and one bird reported.
Waltham Forest – 13 animals stolen
Waltham Forest had seven cat thefts and six dog thefts.
Wandsworth – 11 animals stolen
Seven dogs, three cats and one mammal were taken.
Westminster – 18 animals stolen
And finally (there is no data for the City of London), Westminster had 13 dog thefts, four cat thefts and one theft of a fish.