Six people arrested and bailed over suspected theft of 83 dogs in Ipswich
Watch a report by ITV Anglia's Charlie Frost
Six people from Ipswich arrested on suspicion of stealing more than 80 dogs have been released on bail.
It comes after Suffolk Police searched the West Meadows travellers site on the outskirts of the town on Saturday 20 March.
Officers were at the site for almost 10 hours as they carried out searches. As a result they recovered 83 dogs of various breeds and ages, which are suspected to be have been stolen.
Six people were subsequently arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to steal. A 38-year-old man and two 34-year-old men; and three women aged 46, 41 and 35, all from Ipswich are being questioned.
They were all taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre for questioning and have subsequently been released on bail until Friday 16 April pending further enquiries.
Suffolk Police will be liaising with other forces in the region to try and identify the owners of the dogs.
Officers have been working to identify the owners of the dogs as quickly as they can, primarily through the use of scanning them for microchips in the first instance.
The work now begins trying to return the puppies to their original homes. Eamonn Bridger said where the dogs had been microchipped this would be straightforward. But for those without chips, it could take longer.
"Where dogs aren't microchipped that might be a slightly slower process, but we are committed to making sure we follow through every lead and every line of enquiry to return them to their rightful owners," he said.
Watch Detective Chief Superintendent Eamonn Bridger from Suffolk Police talking about the police operation and recovered dogs.
Detectives are appealing for anyone who may have information regarding dog thefts to contact South CID at Landmark House in Ipswich, quoting reference: 13719/21.