A Summerlin couple says their car was stolen right before their eyes. Moments later, they learned the family dog was missing.
They say it began as they were driving up to their apartment and saw three young black men pulling away in their other car, a 2014 Lexus CT 200h. It is gray in color with a sun roof.
"First thing I see is my car being backed up out of the parking spot, and I looked at my wife and said that's our car," John Hunt says.
With their two grandchildren in their backseat, John and Sharon Hunt say they stayed calm, called the police, and tried to block the suspects.
"The gentleman that was in the driver seat got out and came over to the car and I said can I help you and he said no we're just leaving," John told 13 Action News.
All the while, Sharon was on the phone, explaining to the 911 operator that she was watching someone steal her car.
"They got back into the car and they proceeded to back up,” John says. “They proceeded to back up as if they were going to hit us."
John decided in that moment to let the suspects go, fearing his grandchildren would be hurt if he caused a scene. But the pain eventually hit when the Hunts walked into their apartment and saw it had been ransacked. The suspects stole credit cards, jewelry and electronics, but worst of all, their dog, Buster.
"Not only was his cage opened up, but the pad that he sleeps on and his leash was taken,” John says.
John says the family is drowning in emotional torment.
"The kids have nightmares to this day. They wake up in the middle of the night yelling for Buster."
The Hunts are offering a $1,000 reward to the person who can find him and bring him home.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the case, but John and Sharon say they are disappointed that it took nearly 5 hours for an officer to respond to their call for help.
"Burglaries on the rise in Summerlin,” John says. “I would think that there would be a better response time than 5 hours. 9:45 p.m., we called 911. 2:45 a.m., they finally sent a car."
Buster is a white male Lhasa Poo, stolen on Thursday, June 16, between 6 and 10 p.m.
If you find the dog, please contact John and Sharon Hunt at sharonkhunt@gmail.com.
