A couple whose ute was stolen with their 10-week-old puppy in the back say they are "feeling lucky and grateful" after the dog was returned.
The ute was taken from a construction site in Hamilton on Thursday, and it's likely the thief did not know the dog was in the vehicle when it was stolen.
And though the ute remains missing, police said the dog was returned on Friday and is "well and safe after its ordeal".
"The ute arrived back at the Fifth Avenue construction site it was taken from just after 2pm and the sole occupant left the puppy on the footpath before leaving in the stolen vehicle," police said.
The ute's owner Adam Tuhoro-McLean said he and his partner, Keighley Woodroffe, had only had the dog - a 10-week-old brindle pitbull staffy cross called Nylah - for 18 hours before she disappeared.
Woodroffe said the couple were "over the moon" Nylah had been returned.
She said it also appeared the puppy had been well looked after since she was taken.
"The thief must've been feeding her and giving her water," Woodroffe told Newshub.
She said her partner was not at the site when the dog was returned but his workmates unsuccessfully tried to stop the driver - who had his face covered with a hoodie - from driving off again.
The stolen ute, registration number is FZC996, originally had 0800 NZ Concrete sign-written on the back window, and NZ Concrete Structures written on its side, however police said that had now been covered up by the thief.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 105 and quote file number 210701/6647.
Information can also be provided anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
