ST. PETERSBURG — Police are asking the public for help in finding a puppy snatcher.

On Feb. 26, a man in his early 20s, 6-feet-1 with a slender build entered the Animal House Pet Center, 950 34th St. N, and loitered for about 15 minutes, according to St. Petersburg Police. He then snatched the unnamed 10-week-old, two-pound gray female Chihuahua with tan paws that is worth hundreds of dollars from the holding area, police said.

A customer in the store said he saw the puppy snatcher put the puppy into his backpack as he quickly left the store.

In the surveillance video, the man is wearing a red shirt, black pants, red shoes, and is carrying a black backpack. Detectives believe the suspect hangs out around that area of 34th Street N.

Anyone with information on the puppy snatcher's identity is asked to call Detective Holly Hadrika at (727) 551-3142 or the Economic Crimes/Forgery Unit at (727) 893-7618.