Thieves stealing a pug from a North Park home in the middle of the night were captured on a neighbor's surveillance camera.
Jesse Ray's four-year-old pug named Princess Zelda was stolen early Wednesday morning while he stepped out of the home with his brother to make a quick trip to the convenience store around the corner.
"We were gone maybe 10 to 15 minutes. When we got back, my house was broken into and my dog was gone," Ray said.
He told NBC 7, he has lived on a quiet street in North Park for the last five years.
"We all look out for each other. Nothing like this ever happens. It's calm all the time," Ray said.
He said his front door was locked but Princess Zelda was nowhere to be found.
"Then I noticed that my side gate was open and then that heart drop feeling, he said. "And then it all started coming together--that someone had taken my dog."
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Video from a neighbor's surveillance camera across the street appears to show an SUV slowly driving up and park. Then, a group of people get out and head towards the back of the house.
"It's pretty clear of them running out of my house holding a white, furry ball, which is my dog," Ray said.
During the incident, Ashlynne Asbury was asleep inside.
"It's really heartbreaking, it's really devastating,” she said through tears. "All I could think about is what happened. Where did she go? Who has her? Is she okay?”
Ray told NBC 7 when he got home, the back door was completely open and one of Zelda's toys was sitting outside.
He believes the thieves used one of her toys to get her to come to them.
If you have any information, you are asked to call San Diego police at (619) 516-3000 and ask for Detective Tafoya.
