3.8m pet cats and dogs have gone missing in the last five years

New research from Sainsbury's Finance indicates that 12% of people who own or have owned a cat during the past five years have suffered from them going missing, and the corresponding figure for dog owners is 4%. In total, this means 3.8 million GB residents have had to suffer this anguish. Alarmingly, 6% of these people were adamant that their animals were stolen and a further 14% said that it was quite likely that their animal had been a victim of theft.

Sainsbury's Pet Insurance provides up to £1,000 towards the advertising costs for a lost dog or cat and up to £750 compensation if the pet is lost or stolen and not returned.

Lucy Hunter, Sainsbury's Pet Insurance Manager, said: "It's a huge worry that so many cats and dogs are going missing, and very alarming that such a large number of pet owners believe their pet was stolen. Given our findings and the fact that the Pets Bureau says that a third of dogs reported as missing are recorded as stolen, pet-knapping is a very real crime that should be taken seriously.

"Just last year more than 50 cats went missing in Stourbridge, West Midlands, with many owners fearing that they had been stolen. The area became known as a feline Bermuda Triangle.

"It's worth noting that not all pet insurance polices recognise the importance of providing support in the form of advertising or reward benefits to owners who have lost their pet."

Tragically, Sainsbury's Finance's research suggests that only 55% of people whose pet cat or dog went missing in the past five years ever saw their animal alive again. 32% said their pet never returned, and 14% said they were found dead. One in five (19%) claim that their pet returned of its own accord, 17% found their animals themselves and 19% said that they were returned to them by a third party.

Sainsbury's Finance says there are a number of reasons why pets are being stolen. These range from the re-sale value of the animal, Bengal cats for example can sell for thousands of pounds, to the potential earnings made from breeding. Some pets are even stolen and then ransomed back to their owners. The breeds of dogs which are most likely to be stolen includes Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Jack Russells, German Shepherd Dogs, Labradors, Rottweilers and Border Collies.

Sainsbury's Finance offers the following tips on how to reduce the chances of your pet going missing or worse, being stolen:

Ensure that your pet wears a collar and pet identification tag

Have your pet micro-chipped. This takes seconds and is virtually painless. Consult your local vet for details

Keep garden boundaries as secure as possible to prevent your dog from escaping and also to deter thieves from entering

Always supervise your dog, whether it is in your own garden or in a public area

Try to avoid tying your dog up outside a shop or leaving it unattended

If you use a dog walker, make sure that they are reputable

Vary your routes when walking your dog

Sainsbury's Finance research reveals that the measures owners go to in order to find their missing pets includes putting up posters in their neighbourhood to placing adverts in their local papers. However, only 15% informed the police about their dogs or cats being missing.

Good quality pet insurance does not need to be expensive, good cover at a competitive price can be found by shopping around. Sainsbury's Pet Insurance is designed to offer some of the widest range of benefits available at a competitive price. For further information, visit sainsburys.co.uk