The Metropolitan Police Department said it is searching for armed robbers who broke into a Northeast D.C. apartment and stole three French bulldog puppies from their owners.
The burglary happened at about 7 p.m. Sunday, when the robbers forced their way into the apartment in the 1500 block of Benning Road NE and brandished firearms at the residents, police said.
The robbers thought bags of marijuana were in the residence, according to police reports cited by WDVM-TV. The owner of the stolen dogs told the station that she did not know why they thought that.
The woman, who did not provide her name, said the three robbers, described as men in their 20s, rummaged around the apartment for about 10 minutes looking for valuables before stealing the dogs. The puppies were family pets and were not going to be sold.
“We couldn’t sleep, none of us. We were just up thinking about our dogs. We need to retrieve those dogs back,” the woman told WDVM.
French bulldogs have become a target for theft because of their high price tag. Tony Sharp, CEO of nonprofit pet microchipping and recovery service American Kennel Club Reunite, told ABC News in 2024 that “a bulldog puppy can go anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000 to try to buy one.”
Victims of French bulldog theft have even included the rich and famous. A person walking Lady Gaga’s three French bulldogs was shot and wounded and two of the dogs were stolen in a 2021 attack in Los Angeles.
The Metropolitan Police Department is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspects in the latest burglary. Anyone with information on the incident is urged to call (202) 727-9099 or text 50411.
• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.
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