Puppy Stolen In Bridgeport Robbery Returned To Owner Unharmed: Police

BRIDGEPORT, CT — A 12-week-old male Husky puppy, which was stolen during an armed robbery in Bridgeport last week, was found unharmed over the weekend and returned to its owner, according to Bridgeport police.

The theft occurred at about 1:15 a.m. last Wednesday at the intersection of Carrie Street and Hollister Avenue in the East End of Bridgeport, as the 28-year-old victim sat in his vehicle with the dog, waiting to pick up a relative.

The victim currently lives in Norwalk, but is a former Bridgeport resident, and he told police that he had only recently bought the dog for $5,000.

"The victim stated that after a few minutes, three males dressed all in black walked up to him," Bridgeport police wrote in a statement. "He stated two of suspects pointed guns at him and ordered him out the car. The victim said the suspects tried to steal his car but could not get it started. The suspects then took the puppy, stole his money ($20.00) and two cell phones, struck him in the head with one of the firearms and fled north on Hollister Avenue towards Stratford Avenue. The victim suffered a laceration to his head but refused treatment."

Bridgeport police released a description of the dog, which has a distinctive bump/bubble on its belly where the umbilical cord was attached, to the media, and on Saturday morning, a resident of Carroll Court saw the dog on her porch and notified authorities.

The red-and-tan-colored dog is not microchipped, so the description given to the media was vital in its recovery.

Police believe the suspects, who remain at-large, "likely saw [media reports] too and abandoned the dog at the location."

Anyone with any information about the crime is urged to contact Bridgeport Police Detective Jeffrey Holtz of the Robbery/Burglary Unit at 203-581-5293, or 475-422-3451. All information will be kept confidential.