Police have closed their investigation into an incident of 'dognapping' which took place just before Christmas near Dereham.
In December last year, a woman in her 50s was arrested on suspicion of dog abduction after Cocoa, a husky cross German shepherd, went missing from her home in Mattishall.
Cocoa, who has been described by her family as playful and mischievous, was then reunited with her family three weeks later after a tip-off that she was in Suffolk.
Cocoa before she was abducted (Image: Chloe Marie) READ MORE: Norfolk's longest village eyed up for solar farm bid
Chloe Marie, who owns Cocoa with her partner, said a woman came to her door on December 20 and suggested both their dogs should go to training lessons together.
Miss Marie was rushing to catch her bus at the time but stepped back into her house to pick up a bottle of water and returned to find her dog was missing.
Then, on January 11, Cocoa was reunited with her relieved owners after it was discovered she had been sold to a family in Southwold.
Cocoa after she was reunited with her family (Image: Chloe Marie) READ MORE: No excessive barking to be allowed for planned dog walking field
Norfolk police have now confirmed no charges have been made and the case has closed "pending any new information, which would be reviewed".
Miss Marie has said she is "heartbroken" that no further action has been taken, adding: "This crime is not taken seriously enough.
"These laws shouldn't be there to scaremonger, they should be enforced."
The puppy has been described by her owners as playful and mischievous (Image: Chloe Marie) Recent police figures showed that 1,808 dogs were stolen across the UK in 2024.
The numbers followed the introduction of the Pet Abduction Act, which came into effect in May last year.
Norfolk police launched investigations into seven dog thefts last year (Image: Getty Images) Under the new law, pet theft in England and Northern Ireland is now a criminal offence and could result in up to five years in prison, a fine or both.
In Norfolk, police launched investigations into seven thefts in 2024 and no one was charged.
The thefts occurred in Norwich, Great Yarmouth, Costessey, Hethersett and Watton and some cases are still being investigated.
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