A FAMILY has been left heartbroken after their beloved German shepherd was stolen from their backyard.

Suki Singh and his 11-year-old daughter Corrina are devastated after a thief jumped over their 14-ft fence before making off with the family dog.

CCTV from the family’s back garden shows the thief casually strolling around in the darkness for a number of minutes, leading the dog around in a seemingly haphazard manner.

The dog wags his tail before the kidnapper, who appears to be male and wearing a grey hoodie, disappears from the camera shot along with Sam.

Mr Singh, who has raised four-and-a-half-year-old Sam since he was a puppy, is pleading for anyone who may have seen the dog to get in touch and help reunite the family and has offered a £500 reward for his safe return.

The audacious kidnapping was carried out at about 11.45pm on Wednesday and Mr Singh said his daughter was left in tears following the dog’s disappearance.

Daily Echo: Corrina and missing German shepherd Sam

Schoolgirl Corrina said: “I have had him for ages and I feel heartbroken. I can’t really have another dog because he’s not going to be like Sam. If anyone sees him I would like them to call the police and try and help.”

Mr Singh said he became concerned after an unknown man on a bike approached him in the street in the weeks leading up to the theft and attempted a conversation about the dog.

He left the man behind but Mr Singh, who forgot the conversation until Sam was stolen, believes the incident may be connected to the theft.

He said: “I couldn’t think about anything else and I was driving round for an hour-and-a-half looking for him, but he’s nowhere to be seen - I couldn’t sleep all night. He’s like my child.”

“He was my daughter’s dog and she’s really upset but has had to go to school today and she’s not in the mood because she’s been crying all night.

“Someone has obviously been down and checked it and I think he’s gone over about a 14-foot fence and tried to make a ramp with a bench so he could jump over.

Although the dog is not a pedigree, Mr Singh believes the dog’s distinctive mane may be the reason he was stolen. He said: “He’s a proper head-turner and I’ve had German shepherds all my life but none like this.”

Sam has been chipped and Mr Singh has reported the theft to the chipping company as well as the police, who are urging anyone with information to call 101.