ORANGE – For two weeks, Larry Burgoon searched Orange County and beyond for any sign of his dog, Miles.

The dog was in the back of his black Honda Civic, which was stolen March 26 from a gas station in Orange. Burgoon had left his keys inside the unlocked car around 4:50 a.m. while he ran into the convenience store at North Tustin Street and East Taft Avenue for a cup of coffee.

On Wednesday, Burgoon received a heart-wrenching call. Orange police found the car around 9 a.m. in a business complex at East Lincoln Avenue and North Glassell Street. Miles was dead inside the car.

“I’ve got closure,” he said, beginning to cry.

Lt. Fred Lopez of the Orange Police Department said the car is being processed as evidence, and any DNA or fingerprints will be sent to the O.C. Crime Lab. Three suspects were seen on surveillance footage taking the vehicle from the gas station, he said, and it’s possible DNA could lead to an arrest.

“I’m keeping my fingers crossed,” Lopez said.

It wasn’t immediately clear when or how the dog died or how long the car had been left at the complex, Lopez said.

For Burgoon, who described Miles as like a son, the crime was never about the stolen car.

Burgoon rescued Miles three years ago, and the friendly, furry dog – abandoned by a previous owner – followed him everywhere. Burgoon said he and his fianceé didn’t flinch at spending $7,000 last summer for surgery to take care of a slipped disc in Miles’ back. And when Burgoon’s fianceé faced health problems of her own, Miles comforted her.

On Wednesday, Burgoon said he didn’t understand why thieves would abandon the car without opening the door for his dog.

“I can’t believe people did that,” he said.

Contact the writer: 714-704-3706 or ckoerner@ocregister.com