14 October 2023 , 15:32
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Two thieves were captured on camera attempting to snatch a valuable dog right out of its owner's hands.
Luis Garcia was walking his French bulldog, Sammy, in Little Village, a neighbourhood in Chicago, Illinois on Wednesday afternoon. Suddenly, he was approached by two individuals, one of whom was wearing a bulletproof vest.
At first glance, it seemed like a casual conversation, but the person in the bulletproof vest had ulterior motives. He wasn't there to pet the dog; he attempted to snatch Sammy in broad daylight, in an incident that was captured on surveillance camera.
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The thieves claimed they were looking for their lost puppy, however, Garcia believed they specifically targeted Sammy because French bulldogs, like Sammy, are valuable and can be sold for thousands of dollars. These dogs are highly sought after and were even named the most popular dog breed by the American Kennel Club.
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Samy is an expensive French bulldog (Youtube/CBSChicago)Garcia, understanding the danger, stood his ground and refused to let the thieves take his beloved pet. He confronted the would-be dog snatchers, telling them they would have to take Sammy from his "dead cold hands."
He told CBS News 2: "They knew what they were looking for. They knew what they were after. I mean, because I had another dog. A Chihuahua, a blue-nosed Chihuahua, which is also pretty rare, and they didn't even think about going after him."
The surveillance video captured Garcia's actions as he chased after the suspect in an attempt to protect Sammy. He then picked up concrete and asphalt bricks, threatening the thief to deter him. The thief fled the scene but not before attempting to escalate the situation by asking someone in a nearby car to shoot Garcia.
Garcia told the thieves they would have to take Sammy from his 'dead cold hands' (Youtube/CBSChicago)Both Garcia and Sammy escaped the encounter unharmed. Garcia emphasized the deep connection between pet owners and their animals, highlighting that for many, pets are more than just possessions; they are beloved family members.
He recalled the incident: "I told them you're going to have to take him out of my dead cold hands. I picked up concrete bricks, asphalt bricks that are right here, and I started threatening him. He ran, and then I ran after my dog. That's when he asked the guy in the car to shoot me."
And added: "What these criminals have to realize is that these beings are not just a pet, or an object, or property. Us that consider ourselves dog parents, we take care of them, we bond with them, we raise them."
Despite the terrifying experience, Garcia remained determined, stating that he would continue walking Sammy, albeit with different routes and increased precautions to ensure their safety in the future. Garcia said: "It's not going to stop me. I might take different routes now, more precautions"