DOG owners are being warned to be vigilant after a gang tried to steal a man's pet German Shepherd from his garden.

He managed to fight off a young man trying to drag the animal towards the garden gate to a waiting van.

The incident took place in opposite the Co-op in Staplegrove Road, Taunton, at 9.45pm last night (Tuesday), according to a post on Facebook.

He wrote: "I found a guy in my garden trying to steal my German Shepherd.

"I had read of a number of recent incidents on social media and in particular Facebook of people trying to steal puppies and other dogs but I never thought for one minute that this would happen to me."

He added: "There were three men in a grey transit style van...(with) a ladder on the rear doors.

"I caught one of the young occupants on my garden path with his hand on my dogs collar trying to drag him out towards the gate. Luckily my dog was digging his heels in reluctant to go.

"If I hadn’t run out when I did in a matter of minutes he would’ve been gone.

"I fought off the young lad and he dived into the vehicle which reversed out onto Staplegrove Road - luckily no traffic was passing - and then sped off towards silk Mills."

The man said he wants other dog owners to be "extra vigilant and careful".

He added: "I would’ve been heartbroken if I’d lost my Shepherd as I know other owners would be too."