Rizzo, a 3 year old Yorkshire Terrier (Riverside County Sheriff's Department) |
HIGHGROVE-- A family's beloved dog was snatched by a man as its owners were being rescued from a car wreck, according to authorities.
The dog-snatching happened around 3:00 p.m. Wednesday in the 100 block of Iowa Avenue in Highgrove, said Riverside County Sheriff's Department officials.
While driving her 2 year old son and their 3 year old pet Yorkshire Terrier named Rizzo, a 24 year old woman struck a center divider, causing the car to flip upside down, said sheriff's Sgt. Dave Lelevier.
As paramedics worked to extricate the woman and her child, the frightened dog escaped through a broken window and ran off, Lelevier said.
A group of two adults and several children who had gathered to watch the rescue also saw Rizzo tearing away, and were able to catch the dog.
When the group was returning to the accident scene with the terrier, an unknown Hispanic male adult grabbed the dog from their arms and told them in Spanish that he would return the dog to the owner, Lelevier said.
But instead of returning to the scene, the man took off running in the opposite direction, with the little dog in his arms.
The mother and child sustained only minor injuries in the crash, and were treated and released from a nearby hospital, according to Lelevier. They didn't know until they were released that their pet had been stolen from them.
The suspect is described as a Hispanic male adult, standing 5 feet, 11 inches, weighing 180 lbs., with short black hair, brown eyes, and light brown skin. At the time of the theft he was seen wearing a tan short sleeve shirt with the letters, "White Cap" on the back, black work pants, and dirty white tennis shoes.
Deputies ask anyone with any information regarding this crime to contact Deputy Colbert at the Jurupa Valley Station (951) 955-2600.
The dog-snatching happened around 3:00 p.m. Wednesday in the 100 block of Iowa Avenue in Highgrove, said Riverside County Sheriff's Department officials.
While driving her 2 year old son and their 3 year old pet Yorkshire Terrier named Rizzo, a 24 year old woman struck a center divider, causing the car to flip upside down, said sheriff's Sgt. Dave Lelevier.
As paramedics worked to extricate the woman and her child, the frightened dog escaped through a broken window and ran off, Lelevier said.
A group of two adults and several children who had gathered to watch the rescue also saw Rizzo tearing away, and were able to catch the dog.
When the group was returning to the accident scene with the terrier, an unknown Hispanic male adult grabbed the dog from their arms and told them in Spanish that he would return the dog to the owner, Lelevier said.
But instead of returning to the scene, the man took off running in the opposite direction, with the little dog in his arms.
The mother and child sustained only minor injuries in the crash, and were treated and released from a nearby hospital, according to Lelevier. They didn't know until they were released that their pet had been stolen from them.
The suspect is described as a Hispanic male adult, standing 5 feet, 11 inches, weighing 180 lbs., with short black hair, brown eyes, and light brown skin. At the time of the theft he was seen wearing a tan short sleeve shirt with the letters, "White Cap" on the back, black work pants, and dirty white tennis shoes.
Deputies ask anyone with any information regarding this crime to contact Deputy Colbert at the Jurupa Valley Station (951) 955-2600.
