A heart-wrenching theft has left a Melbourne family devastated after their beloved 10-month-old puppy was stolen from outside a shopping plaza in the city's south-east. The incident occurred on Monday afternoon, with the crime captured on CCTV footage that shows three women taking the dog.
Distraught Owner Shares Emotional Plea
Frank Wong had ducked into the 670 Chapel Street shopping plaza near Malcom Street in South Yarra at approximately 3:25 pm to purchase groceries. He left his black cavoodle, Dora, tied to a pole outside, expecting to be gone for only a brief period. However, upon returning about 15 minutes later, Wong discovered that Dora was missing.
"It was utterly awful to see the CCTV footage of Dora being taken," Wong expressed. "I thought we lived in a safe and friendly neighbourhood, so to see that happen is very awful." He has had Dora for about eight months, acquiring her to grow up alongside his four-year-old daughter, whom he describes as being like sisters with the puppy.
CCTV Captures Three Women in Opportunistic Crime
The surveillance video reveals three women walking down the street who appeared to notice the dog before entering the shopping centre. They subsequently returned outside, untied the puppy, and walked off with her on the lead, heading north on Chapel Street. Sergeant Ryan Gilmore of Victoria Police noted that dog theft is not a known problem in the area, suggesting this was likely an opportunistic crime.
Gilmore urged those responsible to hand Dora in immediately, warning that police would catch up with them soon. "Being a live animal, Dora's got a family at home, a young little girl is missing her, so we're pretty keen to reunite her with her family," he stated. Dora is microchipped and can be handed in to any veterinary clinic or police station.
Community Support and Reward Offered
Wong expressed gratitude for the community's assistance in searching for Dora, which has provided some faith during this difficult time. He has found it particularly challenging to share the news with his daughter, who misses the puppy deeply. In a bid to secure Dora's return, Wong has offered a reward, emphasizing that all the family wants is to have her back home.
"If anyone has seen Dora or seen the people that took her, please do let us know," Wong pleaded. "We are happy to provide a reward, all we want is to have Dora back home with our family." Following this traumatic event, he vowed never to leave Dora outside unattended again.
Description of Offenders and Missing Dog
The three offenders are described as Caucasian women aged in their 20s to 30s, with long and medium brown hair:
- The first woman was wearing a grey crop top and black pants.
- The second was dressed in a dark tracksuit and a Nike T-shirt.
- The third offender had on dark jeans and a dark-coloured hoodie.
Dora is a black cavoodle wearing a pink collar and leash. Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward to assist in the investigation and reunite the puppy with her grieving family.
