Fort Lauderdale police search for suspect who stole Bentley with puppy inside; dog safely recovered

Fort Lauderdale police are searching for a suspect after a 2024 Bentley Continental was stolen with a 6-month-old black poodle mix named Coco inside on Monday afternoon. The puppy was safely returned to its owner the following morning.

The theft happened in a residential neighborhood. Police said the car had been left unlocked in a driveway with the key fob inside while the owner was talking with a friend nearby. Surveillance video from a nearby home shows a black car driving past before a person runs up to the unlocked vehicle and drives away.

A 2024 Bentley Continental typically ranges from about $240,000 to more than $350,000 depending on the model and options, according to pricing data from Car and Driver. The average price is around $270,000, Edmunds states. 

The suspects later abandoned the puppy. Coco was found nearby and returned to the owner the next morning, according to the victim's family.

"We do believe that this was a miracle," said Becky Irvine, the owner's daughter. "The fact that this car was taken so quickly and then [Coco] recovered just a street over, everything fell into place so that we could be reunited with her again."

Irvine said the puppy was taken to a local veterinary clinic and received a clean bill of health, though she added that Coco still appears shaken after the incident.

Fort Lauderdale Police Sgt. Patrick O'Brien used the incident to warn residents about vehicle safety.

"It was a dog today. It could be a gun tomorrow. It could be your child," O'Brien said. "You always have to remember to take everything out of your vehicle."

Police are urging residents not to leave vehicles unlocked or valuables inside, even for a short time, and said the investigation remains ongoing.