- Have YOU been a victim of dog theft? Email elizabeth.haigh@dailymail.co.uk
A hunt is on for an alleged dog snatcher who broke into a family home and stuffed a Chihuahua puppy into her rucksack before fleeing the scene.
Jolene Cooper, 14, single-handedly chased off the woman from her grandmother’s house in Buckingham on September 1.
Footage from grandmother-of-22 Jo Cooper’s security cameras shows a woman, dressed all in black, entering the property through the front gate while carrying a black backpack.
The 53-year-old had tasked her granddaughter Jolene to advertise and sell the six-puppy Chihuahua litter online.
CCTV footage shows how the woman opened Ms Cooper’s front gate and brazenly entered the house.
She ignored a small dog that was running around the front garden, instead heading straight inside with her backpack.
Seconds later she runs out the house at full pelt, backpack in her arms, and flees down the street while being chased by the plucky teenager.
Dog squeals can be heard, which Ms Cooper says came from the alleged robber’s backpack, as she is said to have taken one of the nine-week-old puppies and placed it inside.
A heartbroken pet owner was filmed chasing a ‘dog snatcher’ down the street after a woman broke into her home and tried to stuff her puppy into a rucksack
The nine-week-old puppy targeted by the thief is so young it does not even have a name yet
Jo Cooper, 53, had tasked her granddaughter with selling the litter of puppies online
The alleged thief was so quick to run away she even dropped her phone in the process.
During the pursuit Jolene is heard shouting ‘what the f*** are you doing’ and ‘give me back my puppy’.
Her grandmother, a mobile catering worker, said she’ is proud of her granddaughter for chasing the culprit.
Thames Valley Police has launched an investigation into the incident and wanted to reassure the public that they are ‘actively progressing the investigation’.
Ms Cooper said: ‘I looked at my camera and all I saw was two people running down the road then I realised it was Jolene chasing someone.
‘I was so shocked to see it but I’m proud of Jolene. She’s very mature.
‘Jolene had come downstairs and saw the woman bent over in the hallway picking the puppy up so she jumped over the stair gate and ran after her.
‘It makes me apprehensive of letting Jolene arrange anything like this [such as selling puppies] again. It’s not fair on her.
The alleged thief walked straight into Ms Cooper’s house, ignoring a small dog that was running around in the front yard
She was seen sprinting away from the scene so quickly she appeared to drop her phone
Ms Cooper’s 14-year-old granddaughter chased the alleged thief down the street
‘We’ve given people the chance to buy them and they’re taking advantage of our good nature.’
Ms Cooper says the new owner is waiting for the puppy to be returned so they can take him home.
A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police said: ‘We received a report of a burglary in Buckingham on Monday, 1 September.
‘Officers have launched an investigation and enquiries remain ongoing. A suspect has been identified and is currently being treated as a person of interest in connection with this incident.
‘We understand the concern this may cause and would like to reassure the public that we are actively progressing the investigation.’
