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1 year ago
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This is the moment brazen thieves stole a dozen caged puppies worth $100,000 by unloading them from a California pet store and tossing them in the back of a getaway van.
Surveillance video captured four masked men as they broke into the Top Dog Pet Store in Gardena just after 1am Tuesday.
The robbers grabbed 12 French bulldogs, including one 10-month-old show dog named 'Roll X.'
Shop owner Andrew Avalos told KTLA5 the robbers snatched the pups and threw them in a large white Chevy van 'like they were stuffed animals.'
It is unclear if the dogs were injured, and Gardena Police are on the hunt for the missing pups.
Four masked thieves are seen tossing a dozen French bulldogs into the back of a white van on Tuesday morning
Shop owner Andrew Avalos said that the financial loss from the heist is concerning, but finding the stolen dogs is his top priority
The video begins with the robbers backing up their van to the front of the store on Rosecrans Avenue before the suspects open up the back two doors of the vehicle.
Two men then jump out of the van and proceed to break the front doors with a tool before they bust into the shop.
The pair then run towards the back of the establishment as a third suspect trails behind them.
The burglars turn the back room lights on and start to roll out cages filled with the French bulldogs that keep barking.
In a rush, the thieves throw one cage of dogs into the van before they just start to vigorously throw each dog inside.
As the others manage to grab the dogs, one of the brazen thieves, in a black beanie with white text on it, breaks into the register and fills his pockets with $2,000.
'We love our animals you know, it's just frustrating knowing they are out there and we can't do anything about it,' Avalos said.
The pet shop is decked out with 16 security cameras and a metal gate, but the thieves still managed to get away with the dogs and the cash.
The robbers stormed the back of the store and frantically began wheeling out the cages filled with the dogs
The pet store had 16 surveillance cameras and a medal gate to protect it, but the robbers still managed to break in
Many concerned community members have taken to social media to help locate the stolen puppies.
Avalos said: 'We appreciate that they came together to help us out at a time like this.'
The shop owner also revealed the financial loss from the heist is concerning, but finding the stolen dogs is his top priority.
Avalos said he is offering a hefty monetary reward for anyone that can help track down the missing pups or the suspects that have yet to be identified.
According to Bubbly Pet, the average price of French bulldog puppies can differ based on each one's lineage.
Community members and the pet store have taken to social media in an effort to help locate the stolen pups
The robbers pulled up in a white Chevy van as three of them took the dogs and one of them took $2,000 in cash from the store register
One from 'ordinary' lineages typically costs anywhere between $1,500 to $3,000, but if they come from 'champion bloodlines,' then they could go for $2,000 to $6,000.
The site added that Micro French bulldogs are the most expensive type for this breed as they are valued at $100,000 due to their 'rarity and astonishing appearance.'
Besides the initial cost of obtaining a French bulldog, the breed alone is known to have a slew of health issues that can become costly.
French bulldogs have around a 10 to 12 years lifespan and average medical expenses of $4,300.
English (US)