Dognappers Target Toy Breeds

Forget cat burglars: a surge in the popularity of pricy diminutive dogs has generated a wave of dognapping. Dog thieves across the nation have assaulted store clerks, broken into cars, and even held a family at gunpoint to get their hands on the pups, which can be fenced for thousands of dollars, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Demand outpaces supply for the toy breeds—from 12-pound pugs to 2-pound teacup Yorkshire terriers—because they have small litters. "These days, in this marketplace, it pays to steal a dog," laments the president of the International Kennel Club. "You can slip it into your jacket. And a dog can't point a finger at who stole them." (More dog stories.)