A SUSSEX pet detective has warned about dognappers in the UK after Lady Gaga's French bulldogs were stolen by armed robbers.

The popstar offered a $500,000 reward after her pets were taken by thieves who shot her dog walker in Hollywood.

She was eventually reunited with them, but celebrities in the UK are now on high alert.

Glamour model Chloe Goodman was recently seen crouching protectively over her French bulldogs in Hove.

Pet detective Colin Butcher said: “If Lady Gaga contacted me and asked me to find her dogs, I’d have to be mindful of what the laws are there, but I’m good at getting stolen dogs back in Britain.

“If you don’t know how to investigate dog theft, then you’ve got no idea where to start looking.

“It takes a big celeb like that to be a victim of dog crime for people to take notice but it will happen in Britain soon.”

The former police inspector believes up to 15 dogs a day are stolen in the UK, some at knifepoint.

Colin has had one desperate couple offering £30,000 to get their pet back.

And he is involved in the first private prosecution for dog theft in the country.

He said: “There’s vast amounts of money to be made.

“French Bulldogs can be be worth as much as £3,500.

“It’s horrendous, it’s a member of the family being ripped out.”

Colin founded the United Kingdom Pet Detectives after leaving Surrey Police as a Detective Inspector.

The UKPD, based in Sussex, is the only agency in the United Kingdom specialising in recovering stolen or missing cats, dogs and other animals.

Colin warned that pet owners need to be on heir guard for ruthless dognappers who know how to play the system.

He said: “If you think about the logic, the police will accept that only 25% of missing dogs are ever recovered.

“So, that means 75% are missing.

“We are not over run in this country with unowned dogs.

“So, where have all the stolen dogs gone?

“It’s because the people stealing them are organised.

“They know how to churn that dog back into the system.”

Police and Crime Commissioners around the country sent out a survey this week to find out if there is public support for updating the law on dog theft.

The findings of the survey, which has been coordinated by Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne, will be used to inform discussions on the issue nationally.

Colin said: “There are certain elements of the criminal fraternity who will seek to hold onto a dog for two to three weeks until the desperate owner offers a reward and then they’ll come forward and say I think I might know where your dog is.

“There’s one in West Sussex at the moment where the owner is offering £2,500.

“That’s easy money if you’ve got the dog.

“A lot of dog owners will do buy backs.

“Five grand, no questions asked.

“The police don’t even realise how very well organised they are.

“The criminals know how to beat the system and they are very, very skilled.”

A devastated Cornish dog owner told how her six-month-old Labradoodle puppy was snatched at knifepoint in December 2019.

The criminals know there is good money to be made from stealing dogs, Colin said.

“It keeps me extremely busy.

“The reality is the police do not record dog thefts as a general rule.

“When they do record them, because their crime recording system does not include a specific offence of dog theft, it is up to the recording officer where to put that offence.

“It could be theft from a motor vehicle, burglary, I think there are seven categories.

“Which means when they are asked how many dogs havre been stolen in their county they don’t know because they cannot retrieve that information.

“The thieves know that if the owners are not able to prove their dog was stolen, the police won’t record it.

“No record means, no investigation.

“About 60 per cent are not recorded and only a tiny per cent are actually investigated.

“The police don’t know the facts because they cannot interrogate their own system.

“I would say 12-15 are going a day in the UK.”

The Argus: Dozens of dogs are thought to have been stolen in SussexDozens of dogs are thought to have been stolen in Sussex

Gaga's dog walker, Ryan Fischer, was shot by two men who abducted the dogs.

He was taken to hospital but is expected to make a full recovery.

Koji and Gustav were later recovered, although it is unclear if a ransom was paid.