A North Island couple are desperate for their 10-week-old puppy to be returned after their ute was stolen with the dog in the back.
Adam Tuhoro-McLean says he was working on a construction site in Enderley, Hamilton, on Thursday when someone took his car keys from the site and drove off with his vehicle.
He told Newshub he was up on scaffolding and away from the vehicle for around three or four minutes, and when he came down the ute was gone.
The dog was in the bag of the ute, and Tuhoro-McLean says he believes whoever took the vehicle probably didn't know she was there.
The puppy is a 10-week-old brindle pitbull staffy cross called Nylah, and Tuhoro-McLean and his partner are now desperate for her to be returned.
"We'd only had her for 18 hours," he says.
"We just want to know where she is and we just want her to come home," Tuhoro-McLean told Newshub.
Police said the Nissan Navara ute - registration FZC996 - was stolen just before 3pm, and was later seen trying to take a generator from the premises of Frankton business.
Tuhoro-McLean said the vehicle is sign written with 0800 NZ Concrete on the back window, and NZ Concrete Structures written on its side.
He said he had heard reports the ute was last seen heading north, around Ngāruawāhia.
The couple hope whoever stole the ute will hand over Nylah somewhere she can be returned to them, and are now offering a $1000 reward for her safe return.
