EXCLUSIVE Hunt for dog-napper: Chilling moment masked burglar calmly walks off with family's dogs Bruno and Molly
CCTV footage shows the burglar calmly leading nine-month-old Shepadoodle Bruno and his mother Molly from a house in Featherstone, West Yorkshire, on the eve of Valentine's Day while their owner Ewa Hunt, 55, enjoyed a cabaret show with friends following a recent break-up.
Molly was found 22 miles away in Goole, East Yorkshire six days later on February 19, following a tip-off from a member of the public - but Bruno has not been seen since.
Footage, shared with MailOnline in a bid to bring the culprit to justice, shows the masked man slipping through a back door of Ms Hunt's property just after 8.45pm.
He is seen leaving less than two minutes later with both dogs trotting obediently at his side.
The mum-of-three believes the burglary was orchestrated by someone who knew her and the dogs, using a copied key to gain access and avoid suspicion.
Frustrated by a lack of action from West Yorkshire Police, Ms Hunt says her sons took matters into their own hands by painstakingly compiling a timeline from multiple CCTV cameras - including one clip showing the suspect elsewhere wearing the same clothes.
Despite the mounting evidence, Ms Hunt claims police have failed to act, leaving her feeling abandoned and desperate for answers.
Pleading for Bruno's safe return, Ms Hunt, who runs a guest house in the town, near Wakefield, said: 'He is my whole world.
'It would mean everything to have him back. I'm living in a prison here - I can't get on with my life not knowing if he is okay.
'Everywhere I go with my other dogs reminds me of him. He's my baby. I watched him come into the world and I wanted to love him for the rest of his life.
'I went out for the evening, leaving Bruno and Molly safely in my kitchen. I didn't really think any more of it because I knew they'd be fine.
'I came home and the door was open and the dogs were gone.
'When I checked my CCTV, I was shocked to see someone had walked in and taken them. Just like that. They've let themselves into the house with a copied key.
'You can see on the footage that they walk willingly with him, looking up at him, wagging their tails, while he's got his face covered.
'I've been in such a mess. Fifteen weeks and I've had no closure. I can't sleep, I can't leave my other dogs alone.'
The mother-of-three believes detectives have also failed to follow up on testimonies from witnesses pointing to the suspect.
She said: 'On the CCTV, you can hear his voice saying Molly's name. He says 'Molly, get back, or something along those lines'. So clearly he knew who the dogs were.
'My sons painstakingly gathered a full CCTV timeline - down to the second - proving the same person seen leaving my home had also been recorded earlier in the same clothes elsewhere.
'The police, sadly, haven't treated this with any real seriousness in my opinion and have dismissed key evidence and missed crucial opportunities to act.
'I am now too frightened to leave my dogs home alone and cannot leave my home in the dark.
'I even have the support of concerned friends who accompany me on dog walks.
'I just wish the police would take this seriously, as any dog owner whose pet is stolen would want. I'm appealing to them to look again at this case.
'Bruno is chipped. We have the CCTV. We have the timeline. We have names. All we need now is that one person - someone who knows the truth, or has Bruno - to come forward.
'To the person who has him: Please, contact me in absolute confidence. I just want my boy back. He's just a puppy.
'He's a beautiful little soul. He's got the most beautiful soft nature. He's so laid back and never demanding. Everyone around here loved him so much. I think about him every single day.'
On Facebook, Ms Hunt's friend Darcey Edwards pleaded: 'We just need that one person who has possession of Bruno to do the right thing, to have a conscience.
'He's just a dog. It's hard to imagine what he's thinking after being pulled out of a family home, from his maternal mother and his owner.
'Bruno's owner just wants him back and we are reaching out far and wide to whoever has possession of Bruno or knows who has him, or any related information.
'Dog theft is now an offence which carries a jail sentence.
'Please, please make contact in the strictest confidence if you know something or want to help return him safely.'
Ms Hunt had previously posted on Facebook: 'This is no ordinary dog theft and those who know the truth will support me when I say I don't feel safe anymore and fear for my other dogs' safety.
'I don't know how I would have managed without the love and support from family, so many good friends and the kindness of total strangers, all those who understand the pain of losing a beloved dog and not knowing.'
A West Yorkshire police spokesperson said: 'Police received reports of a burglary which took place at an address in Ackworth Road, Featherstone, at 8:45pm on 13 February.
'The investigation into this burglary is continuing with lines of enquiry being actively pursued. A 49-year-old man has been arrested and questioned by police in connection with the matter.
'Tackling burglary is a priority for West Yorkshire Police and all reports of these offences will be investigated thoroughly.
'Anyone with information about the incident can contact West Yorkshire Police by calling 101 quoting reference 13250086388.
'Alternatively, call independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.'
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