A dog owner managed to fend off a thief that attempted to steal his golden retriever whilst out for a walk in West Lothian.
The attempted dognapping happened in Longcroft Gardens, Linlithgow, at around 10pm on Friday.
The 62-year-old victim was walking from the direction of Falkirk Road when he became aware of three men behind him.
Whilst two of the men walked past, the third attempted to grab the dog’s lead.
The victim managed to escape with his dog.
Enquiries are ongoing and officers are keen to speak to anyone who may have information.
The man, who is believed to be in his mid-20s and around 5ft 10in, was slim, had short dark hair, and was wearing a grey long-sleeved top and blue jeans.
Detective constable Lynn Myles, of West Lothian CID, said: “Fortunately the man was not injured but he was left shaken by this unsettling incident.
“I would urge anyone who may have seen or heard a disturbance in the Longcroft Gardens areas on Friday around this time to let us know.
“I would be particularly keen to speak to anyone who may have private CCTV to review their footage and pass on anything of note to us.”
If you have any information, call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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