A couple are devastated after their Siberian husky puppy was stolen from a van.

Your Local Guardian:

Lara Ballard, 21, and Will Stevenson, 25, from Sutton, have been frantically searching for their four-month-old puppy since Monday.

The husky had gone to work with Mr Stevenson, a bricklayer, and his colleagues in Hendham Road, Tooting.

The dog was left in the van for a few minutes, at about 2.30pm, while the men were gathering their tools from the house.

When Mr Stevenson returned to the van the husky was gone and so was the accelerator pedal.

Miss Ballard, a beautician in Kingston, said: “Will called me straight away. I thought it was a joke.

The puppy disappeared in Hendham Road, Tooting 

“It has been heartbreaking, who could do such a thing?

“We have had him for two-and-a-half months. We went all the way to Birmingham to get him.

“He loves other dogs. Whenever we take him for a walk he would walk side by side with another dog but he is really shy with humans.

“We reported it to the police but they said there’s not much they can do.

"Huskies can be really stubborn so we are hoping he won’t listen to whoever has got him.”

Your Local Guardian:

An animal charity advised them not to publicise his name in the hope that he might not respond to his captors.

The couple are offering a £1,000 reward to anyone with information that leads to his safe return.

He has been microchipped and is housetrained. The dog is described as about the size of a fox, grey, white and black.

Your Local Guardian:

He has dark black circles around his eyes with a spot just above his eye.

If you have any information that could lead to the puppy’s safe return call 07769268963.