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Yorkie Stolen In Front Of Miami Restaurant Returned To Owner

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A Miami woman whose puppy was stolen last Wednesday from her family's Greek restaurant is grateful for the public's help in getting her little "Monster" back home.

The teacup Yorkie, named Monster, was returned to Athina Kafouros five days after he was snatched from the patio of Mykonos Greek Restaurant while in his pink carrier. Miami Police say one person has been arrested and could face a grand theft charge.

Kafouros told CBS4 News that a good samaritan, who did not want to be identified, came forward with information about the dog after seeing her pleas on the news.

"My Yorkie is my baby. He goes everywhere with me," Athina Kafouros told Peter D'Oench Monday morning. "He was my everything. I miss him a lot. He was the most awesome dog. I miss him so much."

Kafouros said she had been given the 5-month-old Teacup Yorkie as a Christmas gift last December. He paid $1,000 for him.

Kafouros told D'Oench that she named her dog "Monster" because of his scrappy personality.

After Monster was taken, Kafouros circulated flyers around Miami and has posted them on poles outside The Mykonos Greek restaurant at 1201 Southwest 22nd Street. That's where Monster was stolen last Wednesday at 4:15 p.m. She offered $1,000 for his safe return.

Kafouros is a manager of her family's restaurant and had briefly left Monster in a pink mesh Juicy Couture bag, sitting on a table outside as she was inside.

"I feel almost like I was violated," she said. "They grabbed him from me after I walked in the restaurant."

Surveillance tape released by Miami Police shows two suspects who look alike and are between 20 and 25 years. One suspect is wearing shorts and rides by the restaurant on his bicycle seconds before the thief shows up.

They are both wearing baseball caps. The man who takes Monster is wearing long pants. He lingers for awhile and then takes off with the puppy. The men on the tape have not been located.

"I was shocked when this happened," she said. "I started crying. We looked at the video again and again and I felt like a knife was stabbed in my heart. It was one of the worst things I have seen. I just feel like was jabbed in my stomach and a knife was placed in my heart."

Anyone with information is urged to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers (305) 471-TIPS.

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