A DOG-lover has been reunited with his pedigree pet – a day after it was taken by an opportunist car thief.

Nine-month-old Shih Tzu Holly was sat in the vehicle when a brazen thief jumped in and sped off as owner Carl Pilkington worked on a house in Burnley.

It prompted a police appeal but then yesterday Mr Pilkington, 47, who works as a chimney sweep contractor across East Lancashire, was reunited with Holly after she was found in a Padiham street.

The grandad-of-two, who runs Haslingden-based Clear Flue services, was working on a house in Lowerhouse Lane, Burnley and had left Holly, who accompanies him on jobs, in the van with the window down.

But while Mr Pilkington’s back was turned, an opportunist thief jumped in the £7,500 Ford Transit van and drove off towards Padiham, taking Holly, £1,400 in cash and tools worth thousands of pounds with him.

Then yesterday, a resident in Ruskin Avenue, Padiham, called to say the van had been dumped in the street. But although Mr Pilkington has been reunited with Holly, the vehicle has been left dented and £1,400 in cash is missing.

He said: “I am just so relieved to have Holly back.

“She’s a full pedigree and they could have sold her for loads of money because she’s so gorgeous.

“The money can be sorted out. The dog was the main thing and I’m so delighted to get her back.”

Despite the return of Holly, Mr Pilkington, of Grane Road, Haslingden, has still urged witnesses to the incident, which occurred at 11.15am on Tuesday, to come forward.

Sgt Phil Hutchinson, from Burnley police, added: “There has been a massive effort from police and the council to raise the awareness of vehicle crime in the town, but still we are faced with locals leaving their cars and homes insecure.”

Call police on 01282 425001 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.