In the video, a group of men wearing masks and white hoodies can be seen walking up Hyde Street near Broadway before attacking Sarah Vorhaus, 30, who said she was walking her two dogs, Colton and Chloe.
The men then run towards a getaway car and drive away. By request from Vorhaus, KGO-TV has blurred the car as police investigate.
SAN FRANCISCO ATTACK: Sarah Vorhaus says she was assaulted at gunpoint by three men while on a walk with her dogs in Russian Hill tonight. She says they punched her in the face and drove off with her 5-month-old French Bulldog, Chloe. pic.twitter.com/hFhA0sBg8z
— Liz Kreutz (@ABCLiz) January 6, 2021
Vorhaus said she heard a man come up behind her and say, "give me your dog."
When she turned around, a man holding a gun punched her twice in the face and then ran away with Chloe, a 5-month-old French Bulldog.
"I just started screaming. I didn't know what to do. I screamed as loud as I could," Vorhaus said on Wednesday.
NEW: Here is surveillance video showing the horrific assault/armed puppy robbery in Russian Hill last night. You can see the men walking up Hyde St. before the attack.
— Liz Kreutz (@ABCLiz) January 6, 2021
Per a request from the victim, we blurred the car as police investigate. @abc7newsbayarea https://t.co/XrYEcdm7ro pic.twitter.com/qoqknZJAkO
Shelley Peery saw the attack unfold and ran to help Vorhaus.
"The second scream was, like, blood-curdling," Peery recalled. "Like, we knew it wasn't happy screaming."
ORIGINAL REPORT: SF woman assaulted at gunpoint, puppy stolen in brazen attack
San Francisco Supervisor Aaron Peskin said SFPD has leads on the suspects.
"We are taking this very very seriously," Peskin told KGO-TV. "I am hopeful we are going to apprehend the individuals who perpetrated that crime and they will be held to account."
The horrific attack was frustrating for neighbors who say they want the city to crackdown on crime.
"There's car break-ins every week, people smashing windows, taking stuff off of porches, packages. It's really bad," Russell Rheingrover, who owns the building across the street from where Vorhaus was attacked, said. "There's a lot of issues that are driving individuals like me out of the city."
Vorhaus said she is now considering leaving San Francisco. But first, she must find Chloe.
This is Chloe. She has blue/gray eyes, a white spot on her chest, weighs about 13 pounds and wears a purple collar.
— Liz Kreutz (@ABCLiz) January 6, 2021
Sarah says she has not yet been microchipped because they had to wait for her to be spayed.
She’s asking anyone with information to call the number below. pic.twitter.com/kNMxLva8MO
French Bulldogs can cost thousands of dollars and Vorhaus believes Chloe may have been targeted. She's terrified attackers will try to sell her.
"We just really want to find her," Vorhaus said. "If you know anything, if you see anything on Craigslist, just please tell us."
Peery said she is hoping with enough community attention and support, Chloe will be found.
"I believe in San Francisco," Peery said. "I really hope people help find Chloe, for her, for Sarah."
Vorhaus said people with any information can call 919-360-7332.
I zoomed with Sarah earlier tonight. She is obviously incredibly distraught. It is heartbreaking, but she asked we share. She is desperate to find her sweet Chloe. https://t.co/AbjIFSA4OO pic.twitter.com/RFRHb01OrB
— Liz Kreutz (@ABCLiz) January 6, 2021
