GARDENA, Calif.—Authorities Nov. 22 were looking for suspects who stole a dozen French bulldogs from a Gardena pet shop that the owner said were worth more than $100,000.
The crime occurred about 1 a.m. Tuesday at the Top Dog Pet Store in the 2500 block of Rosecrans Avenue, the store’s owner told KTLA5.
Security video shows four masked men breaking into the business. The burglars were seen arriving at the shop in a large white Chevy van.
Details of the crime were not immediately released by Gardena police, who said only that the theft was under investigation.
“They ran to where the dogs were, grabbed the cages, dragged them out and tossed them into the van,” Andres Avalos, the shop’s owner, told KTLA. “They came in through the front door, kicked the door open, turned the light on, grabbed the dogs, and took off.”
Mr. Avalos said the suspects escaped with 12 French bulldogs, including a 10-month-old show dog named “Roll X.”
“It’s a big financial loss,” Mr. Avalos said. “The dogs were (worth) over $100,000. We use those dogs for breeding purposes and that’s how we make a living. With the dogs being gone, it'll be tougher to get by now.”
As the dogs were moved outside, some of the suspects were seen quickly grabbing the small puppies and throwing them into the back of the van. The entire heist lasted only minutes, Mr. Avalos said.
One suspect also broke into the shop’s cash register and escaped with around $2,000 in cash.
