San Diego, California – San Diego police shared a video of a bizarre incident in which a burglar stopped for a minute to affectionately pat a golden retriever before stealing its owner’s $1,300 electric bike.
In the video the man can be seen entering a lit and open garage before attempting to stealthily wheel away the expensive bike – but before he could, he was stopped by the friendly dog.
The crook could be seen wheeling the bike back into the garage, putting it on its stand, and starting to rub the dog’s belly while telling it: ‘You’re the coolest dog ever!’
The wholesome moment did not deter the crime from being completed as he who quickly made off with the bike.
San Diego Police Department Lt. Brian Brecht described it as a ‘very unique situation.’
‘The guy enters the garage, grabs the bike and starts to walk out. He is about five feet outside the garage door, and a golden retriever comes outside, into the garage, and follows the guy out,’ he told NBC 7.
‘He immediately comes back in, parks the bike and starts playing with the dog.’
The Daily Mail reported that the incident happened at around 10.40pm on July 15 on Diamond Street in the Pacific Beach area of San Diego.
The burglar was wearing a blue and white hat, gray shirt, blue shorts, and orange athletic shoes. He was carrying a black and blue backpack at the time.
The criminal also alluded to the theft, telling the dog: ‘Where’s your dad? Your dad should not leave the garage door open.’
‘You got too much s**t, how do you have so much s**t in your house? Why do you have all this stuff? Dude, you might be the coolest dog ever.’
He then wheeled the bike off before hopping on the saddle. After pausing to watch for around ten seconds, the dog then ran after the burglar and left the camera’s field of view.
In a statement accompanying the footage, San Diego Police noted that the bike had several distinctive features.
‘This isn’t your average bike, it’s distinct, featuring ‘8-ball’ caps on the tire valves, an ‘8-ball’ logo on the frame, and a rear wheel frame marked with a checkered black and white pattern,’ it read.
‘We are still looking for the subject. That’s why we advertised this on social media, but hopefully, we can get some tips from the public,’ Brecht said.
Anyone with information is being asked to reach out to SDPD or Crime Stoppers.