SHANGHAI -- A Chinese dog farmer in Shanghai has been jailed for 14 years for breaking into a local dog breeder's home, tying her up and stealing 24 puppies.

Ge Wei, 32 and owner of a dog farm outside Shanghai, was also deprived of his political rights for four years and fined 20,000 yuan by Minhang District Court of Shanghai in a first-instance trial on Wednesday.

The court was told that Ge began to operate Yingxiang Dog Farm in Yexie Township of Songjiang, a suburban district of Shanghai, in 2005.

On January 21 this year, Ge read an online posting regarding the sale of puppies. After having contacted the owner of the pups, identified as Ms Wang, Ge went to her home to inspect them, concluding that each dog could fetch more than 10,000 yuan each on the market.

Ge called up several friends and returned to Ms Wang's dwelling on the evening of January 26. His accomplices tied the dog owner's hands and feet and taped her mouth while Ge packed the 24 puppies into his car and sped off.

Ge was detained on March 5 after Ms Wang alerted the police. The puppies were later valued at a combined amount of 151,000 yuan.