GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — Authorities and some owners suspect someone or some people have been stealing dogs in central Nebraska.

Howard County Sheriff Tom Busch said a spate of reports to his department started around Dec. 1 and that so far 11 dogs have been reported missing. Busch says, “I do believe that there’s someone taking them.”

Law enforcement officials in Sherman and Merrick counties say they have gotten reports of missing dogs and have heard of others.

Laurie Dethloff is executive director of the Central Nebraska Humane Society in Grand Island, and she says her staff has heard about incidents in Howard and Adams counties and in McCook. Dethloff says the reports are unlike anything she’s heard in the eight years she’s been at the shelter.