A devastated family are still urgently seeking their “beloved” dog which was stolen during a mugging six weeks ago.

The brown and white dog is a two-year-old Shih Tzu crossed with a Cavalier King Charles and is called Max.

Herts Police have again appealed to the public for help in locating the pet that was stolen in Colney Heath.

A 16 year old boy had been walking Max along Hall Gardens at about 9pm on Wednesday September 10 when the thief approached him and stole his mobile.

But in his attempt to get away the thief got caught in the dog lead and so picked up Max and took him too.

He went to a car parked nearby, a white BMW 1 series, where two other men were waiting and they drove off.

The thief was described as a white youth aged around 16 or 17 years old, of an average build and about 5ft 10ins tall.

He had short shaven dark hair and was wearing a dark coloured tracksuit.

The victim’s mother said: “As a family we are absolutely devastated. A phone is replaceable but Max isn’t.

“Someone out there knows something about this incident and I would ask them to do the decent thing and contact the police or Crimestoppers. We just want our dog back.”

Detective Constable Stuart Bence, investigating, said: “As any dog-lover can understand, the family have been left extremely upset by the theft of their beloved pet Max and wish to be reunited with him as quickly as possible.

“Anyone who has information about this crime, or knows where Max might be, should contact me straight away.”

Phone non-emergency number 101 or Crimestoppers, the independent charity, anonymously on 0800 555 111.