EXCLUSIVE – Twiglet the Dachshund’s devastated owners blast thief who snatched pup while posing as delivery driver in ‘targeted’ break-in – after shocking video showed terrifying moment little dog was stolen
- EXCLUSIVE: A family-of-four have been left devastated after their dog was stolen
- Shocking footage shows the intruder grabbing the brave dog who tries to resist
- Family believe break-in was planned because they were out for a small window
The devastated owners of a stolen 16-month-old Dachshund have blasted the masked thief who snatched their puppy while posing as a delivery driver in a ‘targeted’ break-in.
Jo Vindis, 43, her husband Jamie, 47, and their two children, aged 12 and 14, have been left traumatised after heartbreaking footage showed the family’s £2,000 dog Twiglet being abducted from their home near Saffron Walden, Essex.
In the shocking video, a thief dressed in blue jeans with a high-vis jacket on, believed to have been masquerading as a delivery man, walks into the kitchen with a hammer and cowardly grapples with Twiglet who puts up a brave fight before being snatched.
Ms Vindis, a vet who was at work during the break-in, told MailOnline she has been left unable to watch the ‘horrifying’ video properly. She believes the thief cunningly chose to snatch Twiglet while all the family, including their son and daughter, were out.
‘It was quite a small window so they must have been watching. She had been out with dog walker all morning and I had gone back to work. It seemed very targeted, it’s what he wanted,’ Ms Vindis said.
‘We’re kind of thinking she was stolen to order. He likely targeted her and knew that she was valuable – they are quite a popular breed. It wasn’t just an opportunistic thing.’
The devastated owners of a stolen 16-month-old Dachshund have blasted the thief who snatched their puppy while posing as a delivery driver in a ‘targeted’ break-in
This is the moment that a man posing as a delivery driver broke into the family home and stole Twiglet the Dachshund
The family were first alerted to the break-in after the thief triggered the alarm by smashing down a glass door to gain entry into the home at around 3pm on Wednesday.
‘Within a few minutes of him breaking the glass door and the alarm going off the neighbours were checking it out,’ Ms Vindis explained.
‘We knew relatively quickly that there had been an attempted break-in. My husband then watched the footage from work and was the first to see what had happened.’
‘It’s just horrifying. I’ve not really been able to watch it properly. Everyone who has met her knows she’s such a gentle dog but she reacted in a way you would expect. You can see she puts up a bit of a fight.’
In the video, Twiglet could be seen bursting into the kitchen to inspect what was going on – as she courageously barked at the intruder.
Clearly perturbed by the small dog’s spirit, the thief is seen trying to get hold of Twiglet and attempting to scoop her off the floor.
After a clumsy exchange, the man resorts to violently grabbing the small puppy by the neck before wrapping his mouth around Twiglet’s nose – silencing her resistance.
The thief is then seen leaving the property carrying Twiglet with him.
Ms Vindis said that the intruder was driving a ‘light blue old-style Mercedes’ and after the terrifying ordeal, neighbours realised that they had seen the man before.
The Vindis family bought Twiglet when she was just eight weeks old. She is described as a ‘very loving, very affectionate’ puppy who is ‘very much a typical Dachshund’
The mother revealed that her two children (son pictured with Twiglet, left and with daughter, right) have been left ‘very upset’ by the ordeal but ‘luckily they weren’t at home
One man alleged that the horrendous incident could have been planned due to the popularity of Twiglet’s breed
Twiglet (pictured) was bought as an eight-week-old puppy. She is now 16-months-old and has a microchip
The family says they ‘have to be hopeful’ that they can get Twiglet back. The dog, who they bought as an eight-week old puppy, has a microchip, while the family also have the footage available and knowledge of the car he was driving.
Ms Vindis, who said they paid £2,000 for Twiglet after dog prices inflated during Covid, added: ‘She’s not as much as the designer breeds but certainly people are prepared to pay quite a lot for them.’
The mother revealed that her two children have been left ‘very upset’ by the ordeal but ‘luckily they weren’t at home.
‘They are very close [with Twiglet]. It’s just disbelief at the moment. She was an absolutely adored member of the family. It was the first puppy they [the kids] had ever had.
‘We had a miniature dachshund before they were born but she died at 14 in May last year. Three months after that was when we got Twig as a puppy. It’s their first experience with a puppy growing up, they are very bonded to her.’
Ms Vindis said that Twiglet is a ‘very loving, very affectionate’ puppy who is ‘very much a typical Dachshund’.
She added: ‘They bark a lot, and seem quite feisty but are very loyal and gentle. It’s just very upsetting.’
Essex Police have since launched an appeal for Twiglet’s whereabouts. He was taken from the house in Saffron Walden
In the video, Twiglet can be seen bravely trying to escape but the thief continues to persist
The thief clumsily grapples with Twiglet but after finally getting her under control, he leaves the property
Essex Police have since launched an appeal for Twiglet’s whereabouts.
A spokesman said: ‘Can you help us find Twiglet, who was stolen during a residential burglary in Saffron Walden yesterday (26 July). Any information, please contact us.’
The shocking abduction has horrified local people and animal lovers everywhere.
Reacting to the appalling video on Twitter under Essex Police’s appeal, one woman said: ‘That’s just disgusting. Evil. I hope Twiglet is found quickly and reunited with the family.’
Another sobbed: ‘She sounded like a screaming child. I hope she’s found.’
One man alleged that the horrendous incident could have been planned due to the popularity of Twiglet’s breed.
They said: ‘Absolute scum, this is on the increase as we all know. These opportunistic scumbags often take the small popular breeds as they’re easier to steal.
‘Sometimes I’m happy I’ve got a couple of old grumpy aloof border collies, they’d have ripped him to shreds. Hope Twiglet gets home.’
Another agreed: ‘I’m sorry but the little Scumbag! I hope twiglet will be found. I bet that person was watching the property in a van or car somewhere close to watch and wait for the owners go to work or something and the snatch poor Twiglet from its own home, its like snatching a kid.’
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