Dog thrown from vehicle in Mineola car theft

A thief who stole an SUV in Mineola, with the owner’s diminutive dog tucked inside a purse, tried to toss the spaniel mix out of the vehicle but instead dragged the animal along a road until it eventually broke free, police said.

The dog, a cavachon bichon, survived the Monday afternoon ordeal but sustained serious injuries, Nassau police said in a news release. The SUV, a Land Rover, was later found parked on a street in East Orange, New Jersey, and the investigation into the suspect’s whereabouts was ongoing, according to police.

At 2:45 p.m. Monday, the 60-year-old owner of the white 2020 Land Rover was filling up at a BP gas station on West Jericho Turnpike when the suspect, wearing a black ski mask, climbed into the driver’s side and drove off, heading west, police said.

“Inside the vehicle was a handbag that contained assorted credit cards and the victim’s 1-year old small white Cavachon Bichon dog,” police said.

Near Jericho Turnpike and Mineola Boulevard, the suspect tried to throw the 1-year-old dog out of the vehicle but its collar got caught, police said.

“The dog was eventually able to free itself as the vehicle continued westbound on Jericho Turnpike,” police said.

A passerby aided the spaniel mix and called 911. The cavachon bichon, known for its small size and fluffy coat, is a mix of a bichon frise and a Cavalier King Charles spaniel. The police took the dog to a veterinary hospital, police said.

The owner was unharmed. Police described the suspect as thin, clad in gray sweatpants and a black hooded sweatshirt, with white/black gray sneakers, black gloves and black ski mask.

Anyone with information should call Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.