Owners reunited with beloved dog stolen by brazen thief

A staffy stolen from a Port Melbourne front yard has been returned to her owners, but police are still searching for the dognapper.

Ava was reunited with her owners overnight after being found by a member of the public, four days after she was taken.

Security cameras captured the dognapper casing out the property before making his move at 1.30pm on Sunday.

The thief struck after pacing up and down Nott St for seven minutes, keeping a close eye on a gated front yard.

He then leaped over a fence and scooped up the 18-month-old Staffy who tried desperately to run back towards her home.

The thief lifts Ava by the head and had to resort to carrying the beloved family dog away.

He made his escape across Graham Street with motorists unaware what he had done.

It is understood from there he walked towards the CBD or St Kilda.

Steve Booth and his partner returned to their home minutes later, distraught, to find the man's accomplice standing across the road. 

“He said the dog had run down the road, we later found out he was one of the guys that took the dog.

“She's like our baby, she brings our family together,” he said.

Police are still looking for a man with dark hair and a short beard, who was last seen wearing a black jacket and grey tracksuit pants and black sneakers.

He is believed to be in his early 40s with a stocky build, about 5ft 8ins and caucasian in appearance.