Family Dog Found Dead In Vehicle Following Studio City Van Theft

STUDIO CITY (CBSLA.com) — Police Tuesday were searching for a suspect who stole a minivan in Studio City, abandoned the vehicle and left a 10-year-old dog to die inside.

The vehicle was stolen around 1 p.m. Saturday from a parking lot near the intersection of Ventura Boulevard and Whitsett Avenue, police said.

The owner of the minivan had left the vehicle running with the air conditioning turned on for his dog, which was sleeping in the back seat, while he ran into a store quickly to get his wife and daughter.

During that time, the van was stolen with the yellow Labrador named Maru inside.

The vehicle was located Monday around 5 p.m. a short distance from where it was stolen. Police say the dog was found dead inside.

The LAPD is conducting an investigation.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact the LAPD's North Hollywood Station at (818)623-4016.