A DEVOTED pet owner has fallen victim to “dognappers”.

Janice Brook says she is going out of her mind with worry after watching a group of men drive off with her five-month-old puppy in their boot.

Janice, 47, was walking her two dogs when her youngest, Chandon, got loose from his collar.

As she ran after him, she saw three men coax him over with food and bundle him into the boot of their car.

The Lockwood woman said: “I was on my way home with the two dogs when Chandon got off his lead.

“He was only just ahead of me and was right by our home.

“Chandon scampered past a blue car where three men had been sitting eating their fish and chips.

“As I got closer, I saw them open their boot and put him in.

“I tried to get in front of the light blue metallic car as it drove off but I just couldn’t, it all happened so quickly.

“My neighbour, who lives a couple doors down banged on the window and came out of her house to shout at the men to let the dog go.

“They took no notice of her or me.

“When she saw him being put in the boot, she started screaming ‘they’ve got your dog, they have grabbed your dog.’”

The dogknappers struck in the Haigh Street car park just outside Janice’s Lockwood home at 4.15pm on November 21.

She said: “It is 10 days since it happened.

“I still can’t sleep and I’m completely lost.

“He is part of the family – somebody has taken away part of our family.

“He was originally my son’s puppy but I have been taking care of him for the past four weeks.

“He has been with us since he was six weeks old.

“We are all devastated.

“He bit through his collar like he has been through everything else including the family’s slippers and shoes.”

Chandon is a black and white Staffordshire bull terrier cross.

Janice is now appealing to anyone who might have any information about his whereabouts. The men are believed to be around the age of 19 and 22.

A West Yorkshire police spokeswoman said: “Police are investigating a report of a theft after a dog was stolen in Haigh Street, Huddersfield.

“At 4.15pm on November 21, a woman was walking her two dogs when one came off its lead.

“Three men put the dog in a blue vehicle before driving off.

“Enquiries are under way and officers are examining CCTV in the area.

“Anyone with information should contact Huddersfield South Neighbourhood Police team on 101.”