Stolen Puppy Returned Weeks After Queens Scooter Theft, Neighbors Say

QUEENS, NY — A beloved puppy stolen from its elderly owner by a drive-by scooter thief has been returned home after weeks missing, neighbors confirmed.

Off-White, a 10-month-old puppy that police said was stolen from South Ozone Park at the end of June as his 75-year-old owner looked on, was recently recovered, according to a post in a local Facebook group.

The news was first reported by CBS New York, as confirmed by Alonso Gil, the nephew of Carlos Gil, who owns Off-White. The younger Gil told the outlet Off-White was "very skinny" and is being taken to the vet by his uncle for care.

The Gil family, who previously said they were willing to accept Off-White back no questioned asked, didn't immediately explain the details of their puppy's recovery.

Neighbors, though, wrote on Facebook they think social media pressure and the news "forced the family of the perp to get the dog back."

The older Gil was sitting in front of his South Ozone Park house about 2:30 p.m. June 25 when a man on a scooter stopped to admire Off-White, who was playing in the street, according to a video of the incident reported by multiple outlets.

After a couple of minutes Gil, turned to bring Off-White and another other dog inside, but the dognapper made a move, snatching up Off-White and zipping off down the sidewalk, despite the 75-year-old's attempts to block him.

The incident shook up the Gil family, for whom Off-White is something of a baby.

"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," the younger Gil told NBC at the time of Off-White's theft, then pleading for the return of his family's beloved dog.

Neighbors, many of whom were also startled by Off-White's theft, were glad to hear about his return home.

"Thank God!!! I prayed everyday for his safe return!!" wrote one local on the neighborhood Facebook thread about Off-White's return, which garnered over 50 comments and 150-plus likes.

Many others joined in with expressions of gratitude, and one even said the puppy's return had renewed their belief in prayer.

"Omg thank God!! Couldn't get him off my mind... So happy for you and your family and that Off-white is OK... Prayers do get answered," they wrote.

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