A French bulldog named Boba was stolen right from her owner's Tesla in a smash-and-grab incident that took place in Oakland's Jack London Square on April 28. Just a few weeks later, Boba was safely found and reunited with her owner, Toya Zheng, bringing a joyful conclusion to a nightmarish experience.
The brazen theft was caught on video, revealing Boba being snatched from her owner's vehicle at the intersection of Franklin and Third Streets as reported by KTVU. Boba's anxious owner, Zheng, had parked briefly to retrieve a file from her workplace, but returned to the scene after less than two minutes, only to find her Tesla's window shattered and her dog stolen.
Boba is 2.5 years old, prefers to stay indoors and doesn’t eat food from strangers, according to owner Toya. pic.twitter.com/9m7QAscuE3
— Betty Yu (@bett_yu) May 1, 2023
Thankfully, Boba's ordeal came to an end when she was abandoned at a dog park in Antioch by an unknown man according to KRON4. A woman at the park was asked to watch Boba by the man, who never returned. The kindhearted woman then took Boba to a vet to check for a microchip, but when the check turned out to be unsuccessful, she resorted to searching online for missing dog posts about Boba. Eventually, she was able to contact Zheng, and they arranged for the tearful reunion to take place in Union City.
UPDATE: Happy reunion with Boba the French bulldog, 6 weeks after thief stole her from @Tesla at 3rd & Franklin in Oakland’s @JackLondonOak, reports @EHarringtonTV pic.twitter.com/oeFYT5ImY3
— Henry K. Lee (@henrykleeKTVU) June 12, 2023
Boba's theft had left Zheng feeling devastated, and she could not help but blame herself for the incident. "I wish I could have a time machine. I could just set it back for 10 minutes ago. Then I would never park my car there at Jack London Square. I would never leave my dog alone in the car. It’s all my fault actually," Zheng had lamented at the time of the incident.
Zheng's relief at having her beloved pet back by her side was apparent when she said that Boba has been cuddling a lot since their reunion. The heartwarming moment was celebrated with a picnic at a park, marking the end of a traumatic experience for both owner and pet.
The unsettling trend of French bulldog thefts in recent years has been attributed to the high value of this coveted breed, which can sell for thousands of dollars. Several incidents of French bulldog theft have made headlines across the Bay Area, with some even turning violent, involving attacks and gunpoint robberies of the dog owners.
Zheng's own experience with the Oakland Police Department went south when she tried to report the theft. She claimed that they put in zero effort in assisting her in the investigation, leaving her feeling unsafe and unsupported. However, Zheng's determined efforts in sharing surveillance footage showing the suspect's vehicle, a black Lexus IS 350, and offering a reward for Boba's safe return helped in spreading awareness about the incident.
