Puppy returned to owners after stolen from yard

WASHINGTON - A puppy has been returned to its owner Thursday evening after D.C. police released surveillance video earlier in the day of two people stealing the golden retriever from his owner's yard last month.

Officials were asking for the public's help in tracking down the dog and the suspects. Detectives came out to the neighborhood of which they believed the suspects lived and hours later the 4-month-old puppy 'Cruze' was returned to his rightful owners.

FOX 5 was out at the home Thursday evening to see the heartwarming reunion.

"I'm so excited honestly. It's been a while since I've seen him. I'm just happy to have him home," one of Cruze's owners expressed.

Police say the dog was stolen from a home in the 100 block of Elmira Street SW on Saturday, October 15 just after 10 pm. Video of the incident was captured on a nearby surveillance camera. In the video, one of the suspects is seen walking another dog outside the resident's fence, while a second suspect follows. The suspects' dog gets excited, sniffing the golden retriever through the fence.

The second suspect is seen reaching over the fence to pet the golden retriever as the other suspect and their dog walk out of view of the surveillance camera. The second suspect then reaches over the fence, grabs the golden retriever by the collar, and lifts it up and over the fence.

At this time there is a warrant, but it is unclear at this time if any charges will be pressed against the suspects.