A 9-year-old French bulldog named Pepper was snatched from her family's parked car in Worthington around noon on Tuesday after thieves smashed the vehicle's back window while her owners stepped inside to grab food. Pepper is currently receiving specialized medical care, according to ABC 6 On Your Side, making her disappearance especially urgent for the family trying to get her back.
According to WSYX, the theft happened in the parking lot of J. Alexander's Restaurant in Worthington. Pepper's owner, Liz Harrison, said she and her family had just left a veterinary appointment and were in the area visiting Pepper's veterinary ophthalmologist when the dog was taken. Harrison told the station that while they went inside to get their food, someone smashed her car's back window and took Pepper.
A Glove Left Behind
Whoever broke into the car left a clue behind: a black glove found in the driver's side door, the station reports. It's not clear what, if any, role the glove will play in identifying a suspect, but it's one of the few physical traces left at the scene.
Harrison has had Pepper since she was a puppy, though the exact timeline varies between accounts — one version from the outlet states Harrison has had Pepper since she was 9 weeks old, while another says 16 weeks old. Either way, the bond is clearly a long one, and Harrison said she is pleading directly with whoever has Pepper now, asking them to return her and offering to travel to pick the dog up personally.
Police Ask for Tips, Parking Lot Footage
The Columbus Police Department is investigating the theft and is asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or who has security footage from the J. Alexander's parking lot, to come forward. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Central Ohio Crime Stoppers online or by calling 614-461-8477, as reported by ABC 6 On Your Side.
For now, Pepper's whereabouts remain unknown, and her family is counting on the public's help — along with whatever leads the glove and any parking lot cameras might provide — to bring her home safely.
