Why French bulldog thefts are on the rise across the US

The two thieves who brutally robbed 27-year-old Marieke Bayens at gunpoint on a California street were not after her purse. They wanted her little dog: Merlyn, a French bulldog.

From New York to Los Angeles, and from Miami to Chicago, thefts of the prized breed have been on the rise.

Small and friendly — and thus easy to grab — French bulldogs are hugely popular, selling at thousands of dollars on the black market.

The most famous victim so far has been Lady Gaga. Armed men last year stole her pet bulldogs Koji and Gustav, even opening fire on an employee who was walking them.

The superstar singer offered a $500,000 reward for their return and eventually got the dogs back. Police made five arrests in the case.

Bayens survived a similar traumatic attack in November while walking Merlyn, a friend’s dog, in the California city of Oakland. The brazen attack occurred in broad daylight.

Bulldog thefts elsewhere in the country have been carried out with similar cold-blooded tactics.

So why are French bulldogs quite such a tempting target for thieves? Two key reasons: their high resale value — $3,500 to $5,000 or more — and their relative rarity, Brandi Hunter Munden, vice president of the American Kennel Club, told AFP.

“Their rise in popularity has led to an increase in thefts. The use of violence, however, is new and alarming,” she said.

Why French bulldog thefts are on the rise across the US

The two thieves who brutally robbed 27-year-old Marieke Bayens at gunpoint on a California street were not after her purse. They wanted her little dog: Merlyn, a French bulldog.

From New York to Los Angeles, and from Miami to Chicago, thefts of the prized breed have been on the rise.

Small and friendly — and thus easy to grab — French bulldogs are hugely popular, selling at thousands of dollars on the black market.

The most famous victim so far has been Lady Gaga. Armed men last year stole her pet bulldogs Koji and Gustav, even opening fire on an employee who was walking them.

The superstar singer offered a $500,000 reward for their return and eventually got the dogs back. Police made five arrests in the case.

Bayens survived a similar traumatic attack in November while walking Merlyn, a friend’s dog, in the California city of Oakland. The brazen attack occurred in broad daylight.

Bulldog thefts elsewhere in the country have been carried out with similar cold-blooded tactics.

So why are French bulldogs quite such a tempting target for thieves? Two key reasons: their high resale value — $3,500 to $5,000 or more — and their relative rarity, Brandi Hunter Munden, vice president of the American Kennel Club, told AFP.

“Their rise in popularity has led to an increase in thefts. The use of violence, however, is new and alarming,” she said.

Experts recommend owners have a computer chip implanted in the pet to allow tracing, and strongly advise against the temptation of posting cute photos or videos of their pets on social media, which may allow thieves to locate them. –ndtv.com