Shocking video shows running woman snatch NJ family's dog off their front lawn
Apr 09, 2026
In New Jersey, a small dog was returned after being stolen from his family’s front yard in Clifton. Rocky was missing since Easter Sunday, but was turned over to a family friend on Wednesday at the Clifton Police Department.
The missing Yorkie-Shitzuh captured the town’s attention since his
capture.
“Such a great feeling, he’s going to go back home” family friend Ronnie Villalobos said.
Surveillance footage shows the 6-year-old pup playing out front when a child wandered onto the property, holding a blanket. Within seconds, a woman exits a nearby car and runs toward the dog. The woman, child and dog were seen heading to the car and driving off moments later.
Rocky’s owners, currently on vacation in Hawaii, spoke to News 4 roughly an hour before the dog was found.
“As a parent, that was really disturbing,” owner William Chan said. “If the child wasn’t able to get the dog, the mom should’ve said, ‘Let’s leave it, we’ll get our own dog.’ But to actually get out of her car and to help, to do this for her son, as a parent, it’s the worst thing I’ve seen from an adult.”
Clifton Police haven’t revealed how the dog was tracked down, but they confirm the woman in the video has been identified and is cooperating with detectives.
“This was heartbreaking to them; it ruined their vacation,” Villalobos said. “Now they’re relaxed, knowing Rocky is home safe.”
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