The two robbers who savagely held 27-year-old Marieke Bayens at gunpoint on a California highway weren’t seeking her purse or her life. They wanted the small dog at the end of her leash, Merlyn, a French bulldog.

Thefts of the treasured breed have been on the upswing from New York to Los Angeles and from Miami to Chicago.

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French bulldogs are hugely popular, selling for hundreds of dollars on the black market since they are little, friendly, and hence easy to seize. They have the added appeal of being a “star dog.” Lady Gaga has been the most well-known sufferer to date. Armed men kidnapped her pet bulldogs, Koji and Gustav, and even opened fire on a worker who was walking them.

The legendary artist offered a $500,000 bounty for their return and eventually received the dogs back. Five people were arrested as a result of the investigation.

Bayens experienced a similar harrowing incident in November while walking Merlyn, a friend’s dog, in the California city of Oakland. The heinous assault took place in broad daylight.

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“I was waiting for Merlyn to finish his business when I noticed two people approaching,” she told AFP. “Before I knew it, someone was standing in front of me, putting a gun at my face and saying, ‘Give me the dog.'”

“The other had already snatched Merlyn from the ground, and when I didn’t respond to the one aiming the gun, the other yanked Merlyn’s leash from my grasp.” They fled in the direction of their vehicle and sped away down a road,” she added, traveling the opposite way on a one-way street.

Similar cold-blooded measures have been used in other parts of the country to steal bulldogs.

Last year, folks in San Francisco heard the heartbreaking story of 30-year-old Sarah Vorhaus, who was stopped by three armed men, one of whom viciously abused her, before fleeing with her five-month-old French bulldog Chloe. Social media photos revealed the young woman with a severely swollen face.

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Why are French bulldogs such a desirable target for thieves?

According to Brandi Hunter Munden, vice president of the American Kennel Club, there are two main reasons for this: their high resale value ($3,500 to $5,000 or more) and their relative rarity.

“This is just not a breed that has large litters… and it may take some time to obtain one,” she explained. “Their rise in repute has increased thefts; but, the use of violence is new and disturbing.”

In response to the recent spate of “dognappings,” consultants advise homeowners to take the following precautions: implant a computer chip in the pet to allow tracing, always keep it on a leash when outdoors, keep its identification papers in a secure place, use a GPS-equipped collar, and be wary of strangers who come knocking.

But the most essential tip involves social media. Homeowners are strongly advised to resist the desire to share cute images or videos of their dogs, which might help burglars locate them.

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Numerous celebrities, including actors, athletes, musicians, fashion designers, and influencers, have broken this rule. So it’s hardly surprising that Hollywood has become a center for French-bulldog stealing.