The burglary happened in the daytime on March 5 at the family's house on Pinney Street. The suspect took off with the Molina family's beloved 6-year-old poodle, "Tequila."
"Some callous person broke in through a window and ransacked the home," said Officer Kelli Pickart with the LAPD's Mission Police Station. "It was bad enough to take this family's computer, but to take their precious pet...it's really maddening."
For 15-year-old Leilani Molina, coming home to find her house burglarized was scary enough, but trying to find her dog proved heartbreaking.
"I went looking around to see if she was hiding, but when I found out that she wasn't hiding, I got really depressed and I started crying," she said. "I tried to get over it, but I can't. I still can't."
Police say the burglar stole around $10,000 worth of jewelry, electronics and cash that afternoon, but the pet is priceless to the family.
"We will get the property. We'll get the burglar. But right now, we want the dog. We will take the doggie back, no questions asked," said Pickart.
The missing 5-pound poodle, with expressive eyes, is causing heartache for her owners, who just want her back. They are offering a reward and hoping someone will see their story and return Tequila.
"Please give her back. But if you're not going to give her back, please take care of her really good," said Leilani.
Detectives think the dog may have been given as a gift to someone. If you see somebody with a new white toy poodle, and you think it's Tequila, call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.
