REDONDO BEACH (CNS) - A man and woman who allegedly stole a French bulldog from its owner today in Redondo Beach were arrested, and their pet was recovered unharmed.
The crime occurred in the 1700 block of Pacific Coast Highway about 9:50 a.m., when a woman holding her 8-week-old male puppy named Cash was approached by the suspects, who asked to see the animal, said Redondo Beach police Sgt. Mark Valdivia.
The suspects then grabbed the dog from her and fled in a car, Valdivia said.
“Initial information provided to the 911 dispatchers was that the suspect fled in a black Mercedes-Benz, four-door sedan ... occupied by a male and female,'' Valdivia said.
“(The) vehicle was last observed fleeing northbound on Pacific Coast Highway,'' he said. “Redondo Beach police units responded to the area and focused their attention specifically on Pacific Coast Highway and were able to locate a vehicle matching the description provided to officers.''
Officers detained and arrested the occupants of the car and recovered the dog, Valdivia said.
“Cash was reunited with her owner, who is recovering from minor injuries sustained as a result of the robbery,'' the sergeant said.
Andres Renderos, 23, and Rachael Sandoval, 20, were booked on suspicion of robbery.
There was no indication that the case was connected to the recent theft of two of three French bulldogs owned by Lady Gaga, whose dog walker, 39-year-old Ryan Fischer, was shot in Hollywood last month while trying to keep two men from taking them. The third dog ran away from the bandits and came to Fischer's side after he was wounded.
The singer's pets Koji and Gustav were subsequently found safe. They were brought back to police a few days later by a woman who said she found the dogs. Lady Gaga, who is in Italy filming a movie, had made a public plea for the return of her dogs and offered a $500,000 reward for their safe return.
LAPD Officer Tony Im of the department's media relations office says the investigation is continuing into the crime, and that there was no new information on that case.
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