‘Report dog thefts to police’

The council was responding to a woman’s Facebook post alleging suspicious activity in a local park, which raised concerns among dog owners in the Newtownabbey area.

The woman suspected that two men were following her last week in Hazelbank Park, in order to steal her dog that she was walking at the time.

She described it as “an unnerving experience” and told dog owners to “be careful.”

A spokesperson from the council said: “Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council has received no complaints relating to dog walkers in Hazelbank Park.

“However, council would strongly advise that all suspicious activity or stolen dogs are immediately reported to the police for investigation.”

Anyone with information regarding the theft/attempted theft of dogs in the borough is asked to contact police at Newtownabbey Station on the non-emergency number 101.