A puppy worth $7,000 was stolen from a Petland store in Dunwoody on Thursday.
The man put the French bulldog into a bag before walking out of the store on Ashford Dunwoody Road, Channel 2 Action News reported.
Security cameras captured the incident that shows the suspect playing with the dog before leaving the store with it, according to Channel 2. It’s store policy that visitors can play with the dogs, the news station reported.
"He took an opportunity when we had our backs turned, put the puppy in the messenger bag and rushed out the door," store manager Matt Westlake told Channel 2.
"We went into panic mode. We ran out the door to see if we could find somebody. Unfortunately, no trace," he said.
The store’s employees are now concerned for the dog’s safety.
"It would be like kidnapping a baby, honestly," Westlake said. "They have developments, they need nurturing, and honestly if they're not cared for properly it's ultimately detrimental to the puppy itself.”
Westlake sent out an alert that goes to police, veterinarian offices and fire departments within a 25-mile radius of where the dog was taken, according to Channel 2.
All of the dogs at the store have a tracking chip, Channel 2 reported.
If caught, the suspect will face a felony shoplifting charge, according to Dunwoody police spokesman Sgt. Robert Parsons. Anyone with information is asked to contact Dunwoody police.
"We do hope that someone will recognize him and contact us and get that dog back to where it belongs," Parsons said.
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