A 13-week-old brindle pit bull mix was taken during an armed robbery in New Orleans East on Tuesday afternoon, a crime that left the puppy’s family and neighbors reeling. The grab happened in broad daylight, prompting an immediate canvass by New Orleans police for surveillance video and witnesses. Detectives with the New Orleans Police Department say the investigation is still active as they chase down leads.
According to WWLTV, the robbery went down around 1:37 p.m. in the 9300 block of Belfast Street, near the intersection of Belfast and Monticello. Officers told the station that an unknown person, described as armed, grabbed the puppy and took off. No arrests had been reported in that initial coverage, and the detectives cited in that report remain on the case.
Police Response and How to Report Tips
The New Orleans Police Department's Second District is leading the investigation, and detectives can be reached at 504-658-6020, according to the department’s New Orleans Police Department contact information. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers of Greater New Orleans at 504-822-1111 or through its website. Investigators have asked residents to review home security footage and neighborhood camera feeds, and to avoid approaching anyone they suspect might be connected to the theft.
Why Experts Say Pet Thefts Are Rising
Across the country, reports of stolen pets climbed after the pandemic puppy boom as demand and prices for certain breeds spiked, experts told Fortune. Animal-health and shelter groups now routinely stress microchipping, close supervision and limiting how much you share publicly about a new pet as basic safeguards. Those recommendations have become standard talking points in communities hit with high-profile dognapping cases.
What Owners Can Do Now
The family has pleaded for the puppy’s safe return, and detectives are urging anyone with information to contact Second District detectives or Crime Stoppers right away. As noted by WWLTV, the report shares those contact numbers and encourages neighbors to comb through phone and doorbell camera footage for anything unusual. Community members have also said they plan to keep an eye on local shelter listings and lost-pet groups for possible sightings while the search continues.
