Less than 24 hours after being dognapped, Sassy, the chihuahua, was back home after her owner caught the thief with her dog at the Langley City 7-Eleven on Tuesday afternoon.

Sassy’s owner Jeannie Stubberfield, along with her niece, were putting up missing posters at the 7-Eleven on 203 Street on Tuesday, when Jeannie saw Sassy’s head poke out of a woman’s coat.

“I guess Sassy recognized our voices and popped her head out,” she said.

“We called Sassy’s name and she immediately responded. She jumped out of the girl’s arms and to my niece. The woman tried to say the dog was a gift from her boyfriend. I said, ‘yeah, a gift from a B&E.’”

Jeannie told the 7-Eleven manager to call police and told the woman to stay there, but she ran away with a man she was with. A Good Samaritan gave chase but was unable to catch them, she said. However, he did see them go into an apartment building on 56 Avenue.

Sassy appeared unharmed but had clearly not been fed or given water, as she was eager to lap up water when she arrived at The Times office a short while later. The Stubberfields had been at the office earlier to talk to a reporter about the dognapping.

Around 10:30 p.m. on Monday night, a thief or thieves broke into the Stubberfield townhome in the 5100 block of 203 Street, making off with her computer, TV, jewelry, hair appliances and other items, along with Sassy. The dog was stolen in her black carry bag with a pink fringe.

The City has seen a major spike in home break-ins this past three weeks, said police.

Police told the Stubberfields that the girl in question is banned for life from that 7-Eleven after stealing from there and spitting in the manager’s face. She was told that the police are well aware of the teenaged girl and boy.

By Wednesday morning, police had made an arrest of the girl. She is expected to be charged with possession of stolen property. Police recovered some of Stubberfield’s stolen jewelry as well.

“Someone said I must have an angel looking over me, because it is too bizarre that we would be at the store at the same time this girl was there with Sassy,” she said.

Stubberfield tried to take Sassy home, but she sat under the table shaking.

“I guess because they kicked the door down, now when anyone knocks at the door, she is terrified,” said Stubberfield. “But she’ll get over it. I am keeping her close to me now, though.”