Coco, the Chihuahua Jack Russell mix, was stolen from her home on the Ormeau Road in June 2021.
Coco was stolen from her family home on 27 June 2021. Despite multiple alleged sightings in the days after, she was never located.
However, following a police raid in the north Belfast area on Thursday, 8 September, the dog was finally located and returned to the Gray family.
Stolen dog in Belfast reunited with owners – lost hope after one year
As Coco had been missing for over a year, the family told Belfast Live that they had “lost hope” that they would find her again.
Declan Gray said, “We had lost all hope that we were ever going to see her again.” However, since she has been found safe and sound, he said, “our family is finally complete again.”
Police said that when Coco was stolen from the family home, it had a huge impact on the Gray family. They were obviously heartbroken that she had been taken from them.
Reunited with the family – an unbelievable occasion
Chloe Gray said, “I couldn’t believe my eyes when I came home and saw her. It was my little sister’s birthday yesterday and I had thought we had got a new dog and I couldn’t stop screaming when I saw that it was her.
“She seems like she is doing well and she wouldn’t stop jumping all over us when she saw us. The police were saying she started barking with excitement as soon as she saw the house.
“Apparently, someone had tipped off the police about where she was, and we are just so thankful for all of the help people have given us in helping us find her.”
Christmas has truly come early for the Gray family as they have been reunited with the dog they once thought might be gone forever.
The family were left heartbroken – devastating for the family
Sergeant Matt Boucher said of the stolen dog in Belfast reunited with its owners, “Coco’s disappearance had a devastating impact on its family and our enquiries have been ongoing since her disappearance to try and find her.
“Unfortunately, despite a number of sightings of Coco in the days after she disappeared, she was never located.”
However, that changed on 8 September as, after an apparent tip, officers carried out a search of a house in north Belfast and little Coco was found and seized from the property.
Boucher said, “A 36-year-old male was subsequently cautioned on suspicion of handling stolen goods and our enquiries remain ongoing.”
