For almost 24-hours workers at Charm City Puppies and Boutique feared the worst about the tiny French bulldog swiped right out of her pen Sunday night.
The crime happened while the store was full of people browsing and playing with the dogs.
"We had four employees on the floor, so they were circling, helping the customers," said Charm City Puppies and Boutique General Manager, Becky Schmidt.
About two hours before closing time, surveillance cameras captured two girls inside the store. Schmidt says the duo hung out for about a half an hour. In the footage you can see they started focusing on a 19-week-old, black and white French bulldog called Bunny. Then they made their move.
"While an employee looked away, the first girl went into our first pens, grabbed the puppy, and ran out,” Schmidt said. “The other girl followed after her."
By the time employees chased after the crooks, the girls and puppy were nowhere in sight.
Police are investigating the crime, and workers hope someone recognizes the girls from the security video.
"I mean it's crazy, we've never had anything like this, you know, it's just so sad," said Schmidt.
Around 4:30 p.m. Monday, Schmidt tells ABC 2 News Bunny was brought back to the pet shop by a group of people who say they found her wandering in Oakland Mills.
She says the puppy will be examined by the vet to make sure she's healthy, and workers will be giving the pooch a lot of extra love.
The shop does want to bring the two thieves to justice for the robbery. If you know who the two girls are, or have any information about the crime, give Howard County Police a call.
