Man Steals Nassau SUV, Tosses Owner's Dog Onto Tpke, Dog Dragged: Cops

MINEOLA, NY —A man stole an SUV from a Mineola gas station Monday, then threw the owner's small dog out a window while driving, causing the animal to be dragged by its collar along Jericho Turnpike, Nassau police said.

The robbery happened at BP Gas Station at 91 W. Jericho Tpke. at 2:45 p.m. A 60-year-old woman was standing next to her white Range Rover at the gas pumps when a man entered the driver's side and drove away, police said.

He then drove westbound on Jericho Turnpike, and tried to toss the owner's 1-year-old Cavachon Bichon dog out of the SUV's window near Mineola Boulevard, police said.

The dog's collar caught, and it was dragged along the road, before it escaped. A passerby helped aid the dog and called 911.

The dog was treated for serious injury at a veterinary hospital and survived.

The Range Rover was later found in East Orange, New Jersey. Police are looking for anyone with information about the man seen on the gas station security cameras, described as thin and wearing gray sweatpants, a black hooded sweatshirt, and black gloves and black ski mask.