A litter of seven-week-old puppies has been stolen from a home in Laddingford, near Tonbridge.

Six cockapoos are the latest pets to be snatched following a spate of animal thefts across the county.

It happened at around 2am this morning and the puppies, two female and four male, are worth thousands of pounds each and could fetch up to £15k.

A £5,000 reward has been offered for their safe return.

This comes just three days after a couple from Romney Marsh had their stolen pug returned to them, on the same day as their other dog went missing.

Ann and Ted Cowlard's pug Dora was snatched by a masked man dressed all in black on Wednesday, February 24 in an alley.

But they are now searching for their other dog, a pug cross named Tom, who disappeared from their home on Monday.

On Wednesday, a teen who was walking a dog had to cling onto the lead when a man tried to snatch it from her in Athol Road, Ashford.

The suspect was described as being around 5ft 10in, of mixed race, slim and aged between 25 and 30.

Yesterday, a dog thief wielding a stick was bitten by the pet he was trying to steal as he confronted its owner in Blean Nature Reserve, near Canterbury.

Police say the owner of the dog was approached at 3pm by a man holding a stick, who demanded he hand over his pet.

He refused to give up the dog, called Lex, who is reported to have bitten the thief on the left hand during the incident.

These come amid concerns of a rise in the number of dogs stolen due to their values soaring during the pandemic.

Kent Police have been contacted for more information.

Read more: All the latest news from Tonbridge