DOG owners are being urged to keep an eye on their pets after one much-loved four-legged friend was stolen from a garden in Ilminster after a visit from a 'charity' collector, and a mysterious chalk mark on a fence.

Lulu, a Chihuahua Cross, was taken at about 9.30am on Saturday (August 8, 2015) from a home in Blackdown View and despite appeals for information on social media the dog, belonging to Linda Brown, is still missing.

Now police are asking for people to help find Lulu.

The mysterious chalk mark on Linda's fence Linda’s daughter Sharon Birchall, speaking on Facebook, said: “If anyone has seen anything they think might help – please tell us. We are devastated.”

Sharon told the News that a few days before a man had knocked on the door claiming to be from a children’s charity.

“We had never heard of the charity and I can’t remember what he called it,” she said. “But he was very interested in what dogs we had.”

They have also discovered white chalk markings on their fence and wall as if to indicate to culprits which garden needs to be targeted.

Sharon said her mother has another dog and is now worried that the thieves will come back to try and snatch that pet as well.

A police spokesman said: “If anyone has any information about where Lulu is or what happened – please call us on 101 with the reference number 86785/15.”

Police elsewhere in the country have warned pet owners to be vigilant against unusual symbols which may appear on outside walls or adjoining roads and pavements.

They believe the markings are being used by thieves to target houses with dogs living there, either planning to steal them themselves or guiding others to the property.

The chalk marking found on the fence.

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