FLATBUSH, Brooklyn (PIX11) — An Uber Eats driver allegedly made off with a Brooklyn woman’s dog after dropping off pizza on Saturday evening.
Surveillance video shows a man get into the elevator with a dog. He rides to the lobby and heads to his car, pooch in arms, before driving off. Devastated owner Melanie Polanco said Ella, a 6-month-old cocker spaniel poodle mix, probably got out when she opened the door.
Polanco didn’t realize Ella was missing right away; she thought the pup was in another room. Then Polanco realized Ella got out when she opened the door for her pizza.
“I was crying. I was devastated; she’s gone. I couldn’t eat or sleep that night,” she said. “She’s probably scared, alone.”
Her worst fears came true when her super showed her the building surveillance video. She called 911 and filed a police report. Polanco also filed a complaint with Uber and sent them the video.
An Uber representative called her late Monday night and told her they spoke to the driver, who claims he does not have Ella, but Polanco believes otherwise. She told PIX11 News she believes the motive was money.
“I don’t think he came to steal a dog, but he saw her — she’s very cute,” Polanco said. “It’s a crime, it’s theft. She’s worth $5,000. It could be grand larceny. I don’t know what’s going to happen, all I’m thinking about is Ella, I need Ella back.”
Flyers for Ella now adorn the walls and doors of the building, but with Ella being gone more than 48 hours at this point, Polanco fears it’s a race against time.
“She’s my baby,” Polanco said. “She’s my first pet, actually, my first dog ever. For this to happen, it just breaks my heart.”
PIX11 reached out to Uber Eats.
“What the customer reported is deeply disturbing and unacceptable,” an Uber Eats spokesperson said. “We’re continuing to look into this, and have removed this driver’s access to the platform. We stand ready to assist law enforcement in their investigation.”
