Community Chat

[MorningLover]

NBC NEWS4

3/8/2022

A Brooklyn woman is still reeling as she says that a pizza deliveryman is behind the heartless theft of her beloved puppy, a crime that appears to have been captured on surveillance video.

"I don't know where Ella is and I know she's scared and you know, she's all alone," said Melanie Polanco.

Police said it happened Saturday night, as Polanco's Uber Eats delivery driver just arrived. Her dogs, including 6-month-old cockapoo Ella, ran to the door and started barking.

"I blocked the door with my foot so she didn't escape, I was like 'Ella don't go.' So Michael, the Uber driver (and) delivery man knew that she was my dog."

Despite Polanco's best efforts, Ella did escape. What happened next, Polanco said, was caught on camera: She said the same man who dropped off her food was seen getting onto the elevator holding Ella in his arms.

"I woke up the next morning, looked at the camera footage and it was clear as day: he took Ella," Polanco said. The man then walks out the front door of the building and leaves, she said.

"You see him carrying Ella in her orange dress, putting her into a black SUV, the passenger side, and then he goes around to the driver's side and drives off," Polanco told NBC New York, still in disbelief of what she watched.

Police have not confirmed if the delivery driver is a suspect in the case, but are investigating. Uber Eats said they have removed the driver's access to the platform while they review the case.

So far, there has been no sign of Ella since that night. "We don't sleep, I haven't eaten, I took off from work, I stopped my life.

I'm like, I'm not leaving Brooklyn, I'm not leaving this apartment until I get my baby Ella back," Polanco said. "After this, I don't want to deal with Uber, I'm traumatized. I'll cook my own food, no problem."

[ECBG]

That's terrible!  That poor pup mom!  That poor little pup!

[meallen616]

So sad and sorry to read your post. Hoping Ella returns today, I will pray for you both,

[chrystaltree]

I don't find surprising or even interesting.  People steal and that includes animals.  They know who this guy is , that's a good thing.  More than likely they will get the dog back.  This woman was a careless pet owner, especially living in an apartment building.  She should have put the dog in a bedroom or bathroom and closed the door while had her front door open because if an animal wants to bust out, a foot in the door is not going to stop them.  

[Sooner]

I feel sorry for people who have pets taken, and people should be punished.  It's theft!

The paper boy stole our Siamese cat when I was a kid.  The cat came back a couple of days later.

How do we know it was the paper boy?  The cat told us.  One look at the kids arms and there was no doubt about it.  

[Cakers3]

---

@chrystaltree wrote:

I don't find surprising or even interesting.  People steal and that includes animals.  They know who this guy is , that's a good thing.  More than likely they will get the dog back.  This woman was a careless pet owner, especially living in an apartment building.  She should have put the dog in a bedroom or bathroom and closed the door while had her front door open because if an animal wants to bust out, a foot in the door is not going to stop them.  

---

@chrystaltreeOf course the most important part of this story is that this person stole the dog, and hopefully will be returned since Uber knows the identity of the driver..

I do agree, however, that it would have been better had the dog been put in a room with the door closed.

What surprises me is that she did not leave immediately to bring her dog back in.  The dog ran out and then she did what?  Not follow out to retrieve her?

[Tique]

And adding on to @Cakers3  post "I woke up the next morning, looked at the camera footage and it was clear as day: he took Ella," Polanco said. ".  What was so important that kept her from doing this immediately? Did she not realize the pup was missing or did she decide to go to bed and deal with it the next day? 

This story as written makes me question the fitness of this dog owner. 

[Mimi NY]

Just a bit confused if they have this Uber Eats  delivery guy on video leaving the building has NYPD questioned him about the whereabouts of Ella,would think if he would be offer no criminal charges  he or someone  could drop dog  off at any police station, then think Ella would have been returned by now, knowing he was on video ,

Wonder if he could have even sold her to someone  on the street for money. 

It does seem strange that if he knew where she came from and he found her wouldn't he bring her back to that apartment to it's owner, just wondering if he was mad over the tip.

[Cakers3]

---

@Tique wrote:

And adding on to @Cakers3  post "I woke up the next morning, looked at the camera footage and it was clear as day: he took Ella," Polanco said. ".  What was so important that kept her from doing this immediately? Did she not realize the pup was missing or did she decide to go to bed and deal with it the next day? 

This story as written makes me question the fitness of this dog owner. 

---

@Tique   Yes-she saw the dog get out and then did what?  Shut the door, eat her pizza, then go to bed?

You don't chase after the pup?  It's not like the pup could press the elevator buttons to go down to the street by herself.

[MorningLover]

Here's the story from a different source.. Different details!

FLATBUSH, Brooklyn (PIX11) — An Uber Eats driver allegedly made off with a Brooklyn woman’s dog after dropping off pizza on Saturday evening.

Surveillance video shows a man get into the elevator with a dog. He rides to the lobby and heads to his car, pooch in arms, before driving off.

Devastated owner Melanie Polanco said Ella, a 6-month-old cocker spaniel poodle mix, probably got out when she opened the door.

Polanco didn’t realize Ella was missing right away; she thought the pup was in another room. Then Polanco realized Ella got out when she opened the door for her pizza.

“I was crying. I was devastated; she’s gone. I couldn’t eat or sleep that night,” she said. “She’s probably scared, alone.”

Her worst fears came true when her super showed her the building surveillance video. She called 911 and filed a police report. Polanco also filed a complaint with Uber and sent them the video.

An Uber representative called her late Monday night and told her they spoke to the driver, who claims he does not have Ella, but Polanco believes otherwise.

She told PIX11 News she believes the motive was money. 

“I don’t think he came to steal a dog, but he saw her — she’s very cute,” Polanco said. “It’s a crime, it’s theft. She’s worth $5,000. It could be grand larceny. I don’t know what’s going to happen, all I’m thinking about is Ella, I need Ella back.” 

Flyers for Ella now adorn the walls and doors of the building, but with Ella being gone more than 48 hours at this point, Polanco fears it’s a race against time.

“She’s my baby,” Polanco said. “She’s my first pet, actually, my first dog ever. For this to happen, it just breaks my heart.”

PIX11 reached out to Uber Eats.

“What the customer reported is deeply disturbing and unacceptable,” an Uber Eats spokesperson said. “We’re continuing to look into this, and have removed this driver’s access to the platform. We stand ready to assist law enforcement in their investigation.”