The pet that sparked a nationwide hunt after being stolen by a thief posing as a supply boy was owned by a multimillionaire, sparking fears he had been used for ransom.
Twiglet, the 16-month-old dachshund, was snatched on Wednesday, and video footage rapidly circulated on social media displaying the pet being ‘snatched’ by a hammer-wielding robber.
The canine belongs to Jo Vindis, 43, and her husband Jamie, 47, who’s the managing director of Vindis Group Limited, which earns £47 million a 12 months.
Their residence in Essex – the place the beloved pet was stolen and nothing else – is price not less than £1 million.
Essex Police didn’t remark at present on solutions that the pet might have been the goal of a ransom or that it was a part of their investigation. It did say it was nonetheless investigating the matter.
Disturbing footage of Twiglet – which value £2,000 – went viral after the household desperately shared it on-line, however they received a tip on Thursday night time.
Are you the one who saved Twiglet? Email: dan.gross (email protected)
Jamie Vindis stated the household was “overwhelmed” by individuals who had helped get Twiglet again
The canine belongs to Jo Vindis, 43, and her husband Jamie, 47, who’s the managing director of Vindis Group Limited, which earns £47 million a 12 months
Twiglet (pictured) was bought as an eight week previous pet. She is now 16 months previous and has a microchip
Mr. Vindis was contacted on Facebook by an apparently Good Samaritan who noticed the decision after which put the pet up on the market. Pretending to not notice it was Twiglet, they paid £700 earlier than notifying the household.
Police then reportedly went to Bedfordshire to retrieve the animal.
His spouse advised MailOnline this morning that she didn’t assume the canine was particularly focused.
But she stated, “But I don’t think it could have been opportunistic at all. He must have looked at the premises and saw that no one was inside.
‘It is quiet, rural and there is not much through traffic. The idea that it could be a dog kidnapping did cross my mind, but we didn’t get a ransom note or anything, so I don’t think so.
“Someone contacted my husband on Facebook after we made the call to say they bought the dog.
Footage showed the moment the alleged thief broke into the family home ‘dressed as a delivery boy to steal the dog’
Essex Police have since issued an appeal for Twiglet’s whereabouts. He was taken from the house in Saffron Walden
Essex Police had issued a call to track down Twiglet after she was kidnapped from her home
“That person had seen the call and pretended they didn’t know who the dog was.
‘They contacted Jamie and the police went and got the dog who was in Bedfordshire at the time.
“Twiglet is back home and running around the yard, seeming to be her normal self again.”
The beloved pet was reunited with the couple and their two youngsters, 12 and 14, at 11 p.m. final night time.
Mr Vindis is the director of the Vindis Group automotive firm, which was based in 1960 by former Spitfire pilot Frank Vindis.
His sons Gary and Nigel had been concerned with the corporate as managers, however following Nigel’s loss of life from sickness in April 2013, Gary introduced the appointment of his son, Jamie, to the place of managing director.
16-month-old pet Twiglet was ‘snatched’ from the Vindis household residence by a person posing as a supply boy
The disturbing video exhibits the person fighting Twiglet earlier than kidnapping her
Vindis Group Limited’s publicly seen accounts stated it made £47 million in earnings in 2021.
The group says it has a community of Audi, Bentley, Ducati, Škoda, SEAT, CUPRA, Volkswagen and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle retailers in six provinces.
Twiglet’s kidnapping obtained a wave of assist from canine house owners throughout the nation because the surprising photographs circulated on social media displaying the canine making an attempt to withstand being dragged from the household residence.
The clip confirmed the pet making an attempt to keep away from the thief sporting a hi-vis jacket and denims as he tried to raise her up.
Mr Vindas posted on Facebook that he thought the media consideration had made Twiglet ‘too hot to handle’ for a thief to hold onto.
He added, “We can’t thank everyone enough for all the posts and reposts and noise that led to her becoming ‘too hot to handle’ most likely.
“We are blown away by how wonderful people have been and would like to thank you all so much.”
The mom revealed that her two youngsters (son pictured with Twiglet, left, and with daughter, proper) had been “very upset” by the ordeal however had been “luckily not home”
The Vindis household purchased Twiglet when she was simply eight weeks previous
One man claimed that the horrific incident might have been deliberate due to the recognition of Twiglet’s breed
Ms Vindis, who stated they paid £2,000 for Twiglet after canine costs inflated throughout Covid, added: ‘She’s not as a lot because the designer breeds however persons are definitely keen to pay rather a lot for it.’
The mom revealed that her two youngsters had been “very upset” by the ordeal, however “luckily they weren’t home.”
“They’re very close (with Twiglet). It’s just unbelievable right now. She was an absolutely adored member of the family. It was the first puppy they (the kids) had ever had.
“We had a Miniature Dachshund before they were born, but she passed away at the age of 14 in May last year. Three months later we got Twig as a puppy. It’s their first experience with a puppy growing up, they’re very attached to her.’
Ms Vindis said Twiglet is a “very loving, very affectionate” pet who’s “a typical Dachshund”.
She added: ‘They bark a lot and seem quite feisty, but are very loyal and gentle. It’s simply very disturbing.’