The devastated owners of a dog stolen by machete-wielding robbers say they are living through ‘their worst nightmare’ as they continue to search for his whereabouts four months on.
Sashi Shutt, 40, was left terrified after being pinned against the wall by the violent gang as they ransacked the home she shared with her RAF officer husband Jason, 53, in Ruislip, West London.
The robbers viciously stole £20,000 in cash, jewellery and designer watches, alongside the one item that the family deems as ‘priceless’ – their beloved eight-year-old pug, Ozzie.
Since that fateful day on February 10, the Shutts have neither heard from or caught sight of the beige-haired pet, who has a distinctive scar on his hind leg after previously undergoing treatment for cancer.
Despite repeated appeals for information, the family has been left bereft by what might have actually happened to Ozzie, who needs regular medication.
Speaking to MailOnline, Jason’s daughter Serena, 22, who is one of four siblings and lives in Dorset, said her family had been through enough emotional turmoil and simply wanted answers.
Serena, an aerial silk instructor, said: ‘As horrible as it sounds, if a day later we found Ozzie and he was deceased, it would have been so much easier than the pain we’re going through right now.
‘We still don’t know what happened four months later.’
Recalling the events of that morning, Serena explained how her father had gone to the RAF base close to the house, while her younger brother, Harry, 14, was on his way to school, at around 8.30am.
The Shutt family from Ruislip, West London, have been left devastated after their dog Ozzie was stolen during a violent robbery
Owner Jason Shutt, 53, pictured with Ozzie, is living his ‘worst nightmare’ after the dog was taken during the violent robbery in February
Jason’s daughter Serena, 22, said the family has been left bereft by what might have actually happened to Ozzie
A short while later her step-mother Sashi, an NHS nurse, had left for work but turned back after realising she had left some items in the house.
‘She just came home to grab whatever she’d forgotten – and then walked in on this robbery. One of the gang pinned her up against the wall with a machete, and told her not to move.
‘They had come in through the bottom dining room window. The latch was slightly off, so they must have just got through the window, opened up all the doors and ransacked the house.
‘They went upstairs, took my dad’s entire watch collection, which was worth about £20,000, and jewellery that was sentimental. Both of their parents had died and left jewellery for them. That’s all gone, so they’ll never get that back.
‘They took £1,000 in cash that was saved up for holidays as well.
‘But when they finally left, my step-mum realised Ozzie was nowhere to be seen or heard.’
The family initially thought the dog may have run off after the door was left open, but now strongly suspect the robbers, who were fully clothed in black and wearing balaclavas, stole Ozzie during the raid.
‘We thought he’d run off and that we’d find him within two hours, because you know, what are they going to do with an eight-year-old pug who is neutered? They would have no use for him.
Ozzie, pictured with Serena’s younger brother Harry, 14, has been with the family since he was just a few weeks old
Serena said the family’s pain of Ozzie’s absence has been made all the worse because of the ‘deep connection’ he had with them.
The family strongly suspects the robbers, who were fully clothed in black and wearing balaclavas, stole Ozzie during the raid in February
‘But there were no sightings of him at all and then a couple of days after, we actually found muddy boot prints by Harry’s bed, where Ozzie would have been sleeping.
‘We also discovered a black cabin bag that was at the top of the stairs had been taken so realistically we think they could have used that bag to to snatch him up and take him.’
Serena said the family’s pain of Ozzie’s absence has been made all the worse because of the ‘deep connection’ he had with them.
She said: ‘Any pug owner would get this. They’re not like normal dogs – he would literally get the front seat in the car over anybody else.
‘He sleeps where he wants and he gets the most presents at Christmas.
‘If you talk to him, he tilts his head like he just understands you.
‘He’s so in tune with with us, and more aware than than any dog we’ve ever had. He has to be completely connected to you, and that’s what worries us so much because of this deep connection he had with us.
‘I just can’t imagine how he’s feeling, and if I think about too much, I just start crying.
The family said they are increasingly concerned as to where their beloved dog might be. Pictured: Ozzie with Harry and older brother Peter, 19
Ozzie’s family is offering a reward for any information that could bring him back home
‘We can only hope that he’s being looked after. But again, we just don’t know. We don’t even know if he’s alive.’
Four months on, Sashi – who suffered PTSD as a result of the robbery – has moved with Jason to another property after finding it too traumatising to continue living in their home.
Their search for Ozzie has also continued, with the family posting regularly on social media with renewed appeals – and are offering a reward for any information that could bring the diminutive dog home.
Serena added: ‘If someone has Ozzie, I just want them to know that nothing you do will compare to the life that he had with us and the love that we gave him, and how much he loves us.
‘He needs to be back with us.
‘Even if you have bought Ozzie innocently, all you need to do is go to a vet, say you have found a stray dog and walk away. We don’t care to know your name, or how you came to have him.
‘No more questions will be asked, we just care about bringing Ozzie home.’
A Met Police spokesperson said: ‘We were called at 9.36 am on Monday, 10 February to an aggravated burglary in Bridgwater Road, Ruislip.
No questions asked: Serena has appealed to anyone who might have Ozzie to bring him to a vet
‘Officers swiftly attended and spoke to the victim.
‘The victim was threatened with a knife by the two suspects before they fled the property with a number of items.
‘Detectives from the West Area’s Burglary and Robbery Team are investigating.
‘No arrests have been made. Enquiries continue.
‘Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 quoting CAD 1620/10 FEB or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online.’
