Two people were arrested and an 8-week-old French bulldog was reunited with his owner after a robbery in Redondo Beach Friday morning, officials said.
Officers got a call shortly before 10 a.m. about a man and a woman in a black Mercedes-Benz stealing a dog in the 1700 block of South Pacific Coast Highway, the Redondo Beach Police Department said.
Police responded and focused on PCH, where the vehicle was last seen fleeing northbound.
Officers eventually spotted a vehicle matching the description and detained the occupants, 23-year-old Andres Renderos and 20-year-old Rachael Sandoval, who the victim and witnesses identified as the robbers, police said.
The French bulldog, named Cash, was found unharmed inside the car.
Cash was reunited with his owner, who police said suffered minor injuries during the robbery.
Renderos and Sandoval were both arrested on suspicion of robbery.
French bulldogs can fetch thousands of dollars and have become increasingly targeted by thieves, according to the American Kennel Club, which warned of a spike in pet thefts.
Last month, the violent robbery of Lady Gaga’s French bulldogs in Hollywood grabbed national attention and put dog owners on edge.
High-value and smaller breed dogs that are easier to grab are generally stolen more often, nonprofits say.
A nonprofit pet adoption service, Adopt-a-Pet.com, this month issued an emergency alert, warning about a rise in pet thefts. The group offered owners these tips to protect their pets:
- Never leave pets unattended in yards or tied up outside stores
- Stay alert while walking outside and pay attention to your surroundings
- If possible, pair up with other pet owners for walks
- Make sure the dogs are microchipped with up-to-date contact information
- Be careful while posting photos of pets online, because thieves could use social media posts to know about your location and daily habits