Puppy Stolen From Queens Family By Dognapper On Scooter: NYPD, Reports

QUEENS, NY — A beloved puppy was stolen from its elderly owner in Queens by a dognapper who zipped off on a scooter, dog in hand, according to police and reports.

The dog's owner was sitting in front of his South Ozone Park house near 88th Street and 95th Avenue about 2:30 p.m. Saturday when a person on a scooter rolled up and asked if he could pet the 10-month-old puppy, named Off-White, police and multiple outlets reported.

After a couple of minutes the owner, who ABC7 identified as 75-year-old Carlos Gil, turned to bring Off-White and another other dog inside, which is when the dognapper made a move: he picked up Off-White and revved his scooter to go, according to a video of the incident reported by multiple outlets.

The video shows Gil step in front of the scooter, trying to stop the theft, but the dognapper swerved around the 75-year-old and zipped off down the sidewalk, taking Off-White with him.

"It's weird to say because I know people look at it like, 'Oh, it's a dog.' But it's like a person to us, he's very much like a baby in the house," Alonso Gil, the nephew of Off-White's owner, told NBC, pleading for the return of his family's beloved dog.

"He is very sweet, very friendly, a little shy sometimes too. So he has his own personality and everything," he added.

The incident has shaken up neighbors, many of whom knew and loved Off-White, NBC reported.

"I'm really concerned. I get emotional every time I see that the dog is gone," Felix Nunez, who live across the street and has a similar dog, told the outlet.

The younger Gil, speaking on behalf of his family, implored the dognapper to return Off-White.

"I understand at this point you might be afraid of getting in trouble or getting someone in trouble, but the dog can be dropped off at a park where there's people around. He can be dropped off at a police station, nobody has to see anything," Gil told NBC.

The family said they just want their puppy back and are willing to offer a cash reward, no questioned asked, the outlet reported.

As of Tuesday, several days after Off-White was stolen, the puppy still hasn't been returned and the dognapper remains on the loose, police, who are investigating the incident, said.