Baltimore Woman's Dog 'Happy' Stolen During Carjacking Found
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Police reunited a woman with her beloved dog after the two were separated after a carjacking in North Baltimore Tuesday afternoon.
Carol Breining told WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren she put her Shih Tzu named Happy inside her Honda CRV, parked in the 200 block of Highfield Road in Baltimore's Guilford neighborhood. It was around 3 p.m.
She was getting inside when a car pulled up next to her. She said several people rushed out. She fought to close her door but they pulled her outside and took off in the Honda.
59-Year-Old Woman Carjacked In Guilford, Her Dog Was In The Car
"It happened so fast — so fast," she told Hellgren. "I don't know if there's anything I could've done to stop this."
Just before noon Monday, Major Rich Gibson — who commands the Northern District — called Breining with the good news: Happy had been found safe.
Officer Matthew Tobjy was on patrol on Wilkens Avenue when his license plate reader alerted him to a stolen vehicle. It was Breining's Honda. It was not running and the dog was inside so Officer Tobjy smashed the window to get him out.
"He was a little shaken from the window being broken. He sort of just sat there, panting and licking my hand. Then, he seemed, well, happy," Tobjy said.
Major Gibson said officers took the dog to the Northern District Police Station where officers gave him treats and he climbed on a sofa to take a nap.
"I can assure you, we are going to put these suspects in jail. I promise you that," Major Gibson said. He declined to describe the suspects in the case.
WJZ was there as Breining showed up at the police station and Officer Tobjy brought a very excited Happy to her waiting arms.
"There are lots of more good people than bad. I'm grateful to everyone," Breining said. "We've got to love each other more and send some good love to these kids who are not getting the love they need."
Baltimore Mayor Jack Young called the violent incident "unacceptable."
"People say they're sick of me saying it. I'm going to keep saying it. It is unacceptable. There is no excuse that anybody can make for that type of behavior anywhere in this city," Mayor Young said.
The carjacked Honda was undergoing a forensic examination and remained with police Wednesday afternoon.
Breining was just happy to have Happy back. "This is my boy. Oh my god! I just don't know what I'd do without you," she said as he licked her face. "It feels so good to hold him."
Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call detectives at 410-396-2455.
