A dog owner says he is out of his mind with worry as his pet is still missing, almost a week after being stolen from his garden in Dundee.
Bear, a fawn and white mastiff, was snatched from the back garden of a block of flats on Bonnybank Road, near the city centre, on Thursday.
Two women and a man were captured on CCTV entering the close before taking the dog from the garden and leaving in a car.
Bear’s owner – asked not to be named – said the trio stole his beloved pet just before 8pm on Thursday.
He believes it was a pre-mediated theft as the 10-year-old dog was taken away on a lead and one of the culprits was carrying a blanket, thought to be hiding food.
Dundee dog theft ‘so brazen’
The 46-year-old owner said: “We’ve got a secure entry and the back door was also locked (with Bear outside).
“They tried to walk in but the front door was locked.
“Someone buzzed them in and around 10 minutes later they’re on camera walking back out.
“Bear is a big, friendly dog but he usually barks but there was nothing as they walked back out.
“It was just so brazen – I think they had food underneath the blanket one of the women was carrying.”
The thieves then leave the street in a large car, thought to be a silver or grey Land Rover – before driving along Forebank Street.
As soon as Bear’s owner discovered he was missing he began his own search, contacted police and asked his neighbours if they recognised the trio.
He added: “I actually saw the people responsible pulling up at the time, I assumed they were visiting someone.
“As soon as I knew Bear was gone I went searching before calling the police.
“Looking at the CCTV footage I would have placed the two women in their 50s or early 60s.
“I think the man looks like he is in his 40s, I don’t recognise any of them.
“The neighbours in the block are just as shocked as me.
“No one could give me an answer on who buzzed them in.”
‘Broken man’
A social media appeal has now been launched via Missing Pets Dundee & Angus.
Bear’s owner said he is thankful for the help and support he has had so far.
He added: “I’m out my mind with worry, the first few days after he was taken I never slept.
“If my partner hadn’t been supporting me through this I’d be a broken man at the moment.
“I’m so thankful for everyone trying to help and I just hope I get Bear back safely.”
A spokeswoman for Police Scotland confirmed there is an ongoing investigating into the incident.
She said: “Around 9.20pm on Thursday we received a report of a dog being stolen in the Bonnybank Road area of Dundee.
“Inquiries are ongoing.”
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