A woman visiting a self-storage facility in Stuart, Fla., is distraught after her dog was taken by a passerby.

The woman was inside her self-storage unit at Tropical Self-Storage around 5 p.m. Wednesday, and had left her 4-year-old shih-tzu, Molly, nearby in her car. The dog jumped out of the cars open window and wandered to the front of the storage facility.

A self-storage employee told police a couple in an SUV pulled up to the facility and the passenger in the vehicle called for the dog. When the dog went to him, he scooped her up, put her in the car and the couple drove away.

Although the dog owner reported her dog stolen, she told police she understands the man may have viewed the dog as a stray and was trying to help. Anyone with information should contact the Stuart Police Department at 772.287.1122.

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