Security footage exposes brazen moment alleged thieves steal dog

The horrible moment a puppy was stolen from a pet shop has surfaced online as police continue desperate searches for the animal.

Alleged thieves have featured in security footage that captured the moment a puppy was stolen from a shopping centre pet shop in broad daylight.

Just after 1.30pm on Monday, a French Bulldog was taken from The Pet Shop Eastgardens, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, sending the community into an immediate panic.

Footage of a group of men interacting with pets inside the store was shared online following the theft, with local businesses, organisations and police appealing for help finding them.

The puppy was seen being picked up by a man just after 1.30pm on Monday. Picture: The Pet Shop Eastgardens

One of the men, earlier shown innocently crouched next to the puppy enclosure, was seen leaving the store in a rush while carrying the dog.

The business uploaded videos of the animal and the men it to its website, with the plea: “STOLEN FRENCH BULLDOG – please help identify these individuals and bring our baby home safe”.

The French Bulldog is cream with black markings around its eyes. Picture: The Pet Shop Eastgardens

The puppy has a light cream colour and dark patches over both eyes that, on one side, extends back to its ear.

It featured in an adorable photo taken by a shopper the day before playing with two cavoodles in the shop’s enclosure.

“My friend and I were at the Pet Shop on Level 3 at Eastgardens on Sunday afternoon and couldn’t get over how cute this French Bulldog was,” the shopper posted to Facebook.

“We found out earlier today that the dog was stolen from the pet store.”

The puppy was reportedly being sold for $9000.

Officers from the Eastern Beaches Police Area Command, following inquiries and a public appeal, arrested a 31-year-old man in Albury, more than 500kms away, on Wednesday.

He was taken to Albury Police Station and charged with shoplifting.

Police are searching for a group of men suspected of being involved in the theft. Picture: The Pet Shop Eastgardens

The man was granted strict conditional bail and is due to appear before Waverly Local Court in August.

The puppy however remains at large and inquiries have continued.

At the time, the men were dressed in white or cream coloured jumpers, with one in a red cap and another in a green cap.

Anyone with information on the puppy’s location was urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

Hundreds have joined the campaign to find the puppy after news of its theft was shared across Sydney’s community groups including Sydney Eastern Suburbs & Surrounds Lost & Found Pets, and French bulldogs of Sydney.

Originally published as Security footage exposes brazen moment alleged thieves steal dog