Police seek man seen on surveillance video stealing golden retriever in Japantown

SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) - Police are searching Sunday night for a dog that disappeared late Sunday afternoon from in front of a Japantown market, police said.

At about 5 p.m. Sunday, a woman went to the San Francisco Police Department's Richmond station to report her dog, a golden retriever named Lily, had been stolen from in front of a market in the 1700 block of Post Street.

She had tied the dog's leash to a pole outside the market, and when she came back out the dog was gone, police said.

The store's surveillance video footage shows the suspect kneeling down near the dog, untying the leash from the pole and walking away with the dog.

Officers searched the area, but did find the dog or the suspect, police said.

The suspect was last seen on video boarding the 38 Muni bus heading west from Geary Boulevard and Webster Street at about 5:12 p.m. Sunday, with Lily the dog.

Anyone with information about Lily is asked to contact the San Francisco police at (415) 575-4444.

Callers may remain anonymous.