A Saffron Walden Town football player is distraught after witnessing his dog being stolen from outside a petrol station in Steeple Bumpstead yesterday afternoon (Wednesday, January 6).
Dan Grindrod, 26, had tied his nine month-old blue roan Cocker Spaniel up outside the Jet petrol garage in North Street at 1.20pm as he went inside to buy some soup.
Just as he was paying, the Saffron Walden Town left-back saw two men putting his dog into a white Mercedes C Class van, which then drove off.
Mr Grindrod, who teaches PE at Joyce Frankland Academy in Newport, said: “I’d just gone in to buy some soup as I’ve been unwell, and as I was paying I saw them bundle him into the van. I tried to chase after them but I was only on foot and they got away. It’s terrible.”
Essex Police confirmed they are appealing for witnesses in the incident.
One of the suspects is described as white, aged between 20 and 30-years-old, 6ft tall with a medium, athletic build. He was wearing a grey hoody and a black body warmer.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Pc Kate Matthams on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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