Clifton family's dog nabbed: was it a premeditated theft?

A seemingly brazen daylight theft has left a New Jersey family reeling, and authorities scrambling for answers. A seven-year-old Shih Tzu-Yorkshire Terrier mix named Rocky was allegedly snatched from the back porch of a Clifton home last Sunday while the owners were on vacation, captured on a Ring camera in a sequence that has quickly gone viral.

A vacation interrupted by suspicion

The incident unfolded while William Chan and his family were enjoying a well-deserved break. Dog-sitting duties fell to Chris Chan, William's nephew, who recounted the unsettling events. “He was on property, and then he's coming back up the steps, trying to get home,” Chris explained, describing Rocky's futile attempt to return to the house. The video, now circulating widely, depicts a child initially chasing Rocky into the yard, followed by the arrival of a woman emerging from a black SUV. Rocky, visibly distressed, seeks refuge on the back porch, only to be cornered and taken by the woman and child before speeding away in the vehicle. The fact that Rocky was wearing a harness and identification tag only compounds the oddity of the situation.

What's particularly disturbing to the Chan family is their belief that the theft wasn’t a spontaneous act. “They had the blanket out already when the kid was chasing the dog,” William’s wife noted, pointing to a detail in the footage that suggests prior planning. The chilling implication is that someone had been watching the house, anticipating the opportunity.

The Clifton Police Department is actively seeking information regarding the identity of the woman captured on camera. Neighbor Michael Tomicich expressed dismay, stating, “I don’t know why anybody would do that to anybody.” He rightly suggested, “Go to the shelter. There’s shelters, there’s places all the time giving away dogs.” A sentiment echoed by William Chan himself, who pleaded, “If you did it on purpose, accident, it doesn't matter. All I want is for a safe return and for Rocky to be back home with us.”

The incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of even seemingly secure homes, and the unsettling reality that opportunistic crime can strike anywhere. With the video evidence now in the hands of law enforcement, the hope remains that Rocky will soon be reunited with his family, and those responsible will face appropriate consequences.