Family's pet Chihuahua returned after heartless burglars stole dog from their home

 
Happy reunion: Lexie Taylor with puppy Caramel (Picture: Tracy Taylor)
Rachel Blundy17 June 2015

A family has spoken of their joy over the return of their pet Chihuahua after heartless burglars stole the puppy from their home.

The Taylor family from Harlow were left devastated after their four-month old dog Caramel, which they described as "like a baby" to them, was snatched in a raid at their home in Harlow, Essex.

Two men and a boy are alleged to have smashed into the property through the back door and raided it. Police are still searching for the culprits over the burglary on June 3.

The Taylors subsequently launched a social media campaign to find Caramel and their story received coverage from media outlets around the world.

And on Monday they had some good news in their search, receiving a call from a woman claiming she had innocently bought the puppy before realising it was stolen.

Soon after, father Richard Taylor met the woman at a local shopping centre to collect Caramel.

The 49-year-old lorry driver described being reunited with the puppy after 12 days apart as "amazing", adding his eight-year-old daughter Lexie was particularly overjoyed to have her pet returned.

He told the Standard: "It felt amazing after all the media and publicity. The woman who returned her said she saw the photograph of Caramel on Sky News and thought 'this dog is not mine'.

"It was hard for her to give it up but she has done the right thing. She didn't tell us who she had got it from - the police are following up with enquiries."

He continued: "It is fantastic for my daughter. She is over the moon. She is now back to normal. She has slept with Caramel for the last two nights."

Mr Taylor and his wife Tracy are now planning a family meal with Lexie and their three sons to celebrate.

Mrs Taylor, 44, a child protection officer, wrote on the Find Caramel Facebook page: "This is better than than winning the lottery! It really is a dream come true and we are just the happiest family in the world right now."

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