Sutton police have been forced to defend their detective skills after a woman's claim officers attached little importance to her dog being stolen.

Sally Bowler said her five-month-old Staffordshire bull terrier puppy, Ellie, was stolen near her home in Gisbourne Close, Wallington, on May 17.

Miss Bowler said she was heartbroken after the incident with Ellie, who was given to her as a present after her German shepherd died at Christmas.

She said: "My neighbour Amy witnessed the whole thing. She saw two young men - who are trouble- makers around here - parked nearby in a white van. They then picked up Ellie and asked her if she belonged to her. When she said no, they put Ellie in the back of the van and drove off."

Miss Bowler said the police were given the vehicle's registration immediately but officers took a week to visit the alleged offenders' home.

She said: "When the police finally went to interview them the boys admitted they had stolen dogs before. But even after knowing that they didn't search the boys or go into their house."

She said she also questioned results of a CCTV investigation.

Miss Bowler said: "The police say they checked CCTV footage from Croydon Road - the only street the men would have had to have driven down to leave my place. But they told me they found nothing to go on.

"It's absolutely disgraceful the way they've handled it - not once did they call me to give me updates.

"The police were absolutely useless, they didn't even return my calls - a total digrace is you ask me.

"I know it's not a missing child but Ellie's a living, feeling creature and she was stolen.

"Now all these thoughts are flooding through my mind like maybe she's being mistreated or being trained as a fighting dog. When I take on a dog I take it on for life, so I can't explain how awful I feel."

Sutton police spokesman Colin Walden would not disclose how long officers took to interview the alleged offenders or whether the property was searched.

He said: "Sutton police has fully investigated the matter. However, we have been unable to link the suspects with the theft of the dog."