Family’s gun terror as prize terriers dognapped

TWO men forced their way into a Los Angeles family’s home at gunpoint and stole four pedigree Yorkshire terrier puppies worth $10,000 (€7,600), police said yesterday.

The men arrived at the family’s Koreatown home and posed as prospective buyers of the puppies, which were advertised for sale in a newspaper.

Kelly Lee, whose family breeds dogs, told KCAL-TV the men made an appointment to see the puppies. When the two showed up, she said she asked them to remove their shoes before entering the house.

One suspect told her they would get slippers from his vehicle, Lee said. When the two men returned, one pointed a gun at her and three family members.

“They yelled at us to get down” on the floor of the living room, Ms Lee said.

As one man held a gun, the other chased after the puppies with a plastic rubbish bag as they scampered around the room and under a coffee table, home surveillance video showed. He snatched one of the dogs from Ms Lee’s hands.

After stuffing the dogs into the bag, the man left with his partner. The two fled in a silver car, police said.

Besides the puppies, Lee’s grown terrier, Tan-ja, also was taken. No one was injured during the robbery.

“It appears the suspects answered the ad, knowing the value of the puppies,” said police Lt Paul Vernon.

The puppies were each valued at $2,500 (€1,900). Police said the victims were most concerned about the loss of Tan-ja, the family pet for more than three years.

“I just want to find my dog,” Ms Lee said.