A girl of 12 was left weeping in the street after her chihuahua was snatched from her arms by a man who drove away with the pet.
Tae Bennett was walking two-year-old Ollie near her home in Beckenham when a blue car pulled up.
A young girl got out and asked to stroke the grey and white dog, before the driver, a man in his thirties, asked how much he cost.
The man, who spoke with an Irish accent, then grabbed the dog, running over the girl’s foot as he drove off.
Tae’s mother Racheal Dyer, assistant manager at a travel company, said her daughter had not been able to sleep since her pet was taken last Wednesday. He was bought from a breeder for £600 as a Christmas present.
She said: “They used the little girl to get up close to her, she asked to stroke the dog, and then they snatched him.
The man had a Stanley knife in the car which she saw.
“As they drove off they drove over her foot. She had to walk all the way around the block on her own and then she collapsed in shock and a neighbour brought her home.”
The family have offered a £300 reward for Ollie’s return and are putting posters warning other dog owners to be on the lookout. Ms Dyer added: “She walked Ollie twice a day, morning and evening. She’s an only child and he’s her best friend.”
A woman in the car had a dark brown pony tail and the girl had blue eyes with blonde curly hair. Anyone with information should contact Bromley CID on 020 8284 8859 quoting reference 3316374/12.
