CCTV: Thieves chase and steal sick boy’s pug

Peaches, a seven-month old puppy, was bought for six-year-old Ellis Barrett after he suffered burns as a baby.

The boy has spent the last four years undergoing surgery after contracting septicaemia following athe incident in which he was scalded with hot water.

His mother Lucy Swift worked extra shifts as a carer for the elderly until she had saved enough money to buy the dog, which Ellis had been asking for to cheer him up.

But the pet was stolen from the family home in Batley, West Yorkshire, on Sunday between around 1.20pm and 1.30pm it had been let out into the front garden.

Footage from a neighbour’s CCTV camera captured two hooded men walking into garden. They were filmed chasing Peaches as she ran from the garden and around a parked car before scooping her into their arms and making a getaway.

Ms Swift, 29, said her family was devastated at the theft of Peaches.

She said: “Ellis had been asking for a pug for months but when I saw how expensive they were I couldn’t believe it.

“I started taking extra shifts at work and was working day and night to save up to buy him one.

“I worked as much as I could to get her and when Ellis came out of hospital on February 6 this year I could finally give him his pug.”

“I was heartbroken when I found out. Thousands of people have been in touch with me to try and help and I’ve told anyone that if they think they see her out to shout Peaches.

“When anyone calls her name she gets so excited and so giddy that she pees so people will know it is her.

“I’m so gutted that she isn’t microchipped but when we took her to the vets for her injections the vet said she was too small at the time.”

Lucy, who has another son Mason, 11, has started a Facebook page in the hope someone will recognise the stolen animal.

The “Help my son find his pug Peaches” page is filled with photographs of the Ellis with puppy and details of how to get in touch with information.

She added: “Peaches has got a medical condition and she’s a very small pug.

“Her mum, Gucci, who lives around the corner had a litter of three pups and Peaches was the only one that survived.

“She sits in the basket of the pink pram outside and is really lazy. She won’t run around, she’s such little diva.

“Ellis and Peaches are like best friends. He has her in the bath with him and everything. He’s devastated she’s gone and all we want is to find her.”

West Yorkshire Police appealed for information following the theft.

Pc Nick O’Meila said: “Enquiries are ongoing regarding this theft and we would like to speak with anyone who has information about Peaches whereabouts or who may have seen the persons who took her.

“Peaches is much missed by her owners and I would ask anyone who has information about her to contact us at the Batley and Spen NPT on 101.”

Information can also be given anonymously to CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111.

Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Help-my-son-find-his-pug-peaches/1426924560925113?ref=ts&fref=ts

• Pictures: Ross Parry Agency