EAST POINT, Ga. — It was the worst 24 hours of their life.
In the blink of an eye, a Fulton County family's car was stolen. But it's what was inside the car that had them devastated.
An emotional support dog, Kai, was missing for more than 24 hours.
"I'm just so sick to my stomach right now," explained Gigi McBride, the dog owner. "She's just so scared. She's so clingy to me."
Wednesday evening, McBride and her husband, Greg, parked their car outside the AAMCO Transmissions on Church Street in East Point.
They ran inside for just a second. They kept the car running, thinking they'd be back before anything happened.
"We turn our back, and within a split second, the vehicle was gone," Greg McBride said.
Surveillance video from a gas station across the street shows three teenage suspects just seconds before the theft.
Greg's GPS tracker in the vehicle shows the crooks had the car for less than 10 minutes.
"I don't think he was trying to steal the car, he was just probably up to no good, trying to steal a cell phone, and a purse and a wallet," Greg said.
Gigi's phone was stolen. The contents of her purse were taken, as well.
But the couple's two dogs were inside the car. Their Chihuahua, 'Lil Bear, was found in a nearby parking lot. But no one had seen Kai for more than 24 hours.
The family searched nearby neighborhoods and passed out fliers. Finally, late Wednesday evening, a neighbor recognized Kai from one of the fliers and called the McBride's.
"A miracle happened," Greg said.
As far as the alleged crooks, East Point Police are investigating. But the family says they don't care about pressing charges. They're just happy to have their dog back.