A WOMAN was forced to cling onto a speeding car after a group of thieves stole her dog right from underneath her.
As she held on, the Los Angeles woman remembers thinking she was going to die.
The horrific incident began on January 18 as Ali Zacharias was enjoying lunch with her dog Onyx, a French bulldog, at a Whole Foods located on Grand Avenue and 8th Street, according to KTLA.
Zacharias told the outlet that her dog had been sitting underneath her chair as she enjoyed her food.
Then, at around 2:30 p.m., disaster struck.
The Los Angeles woman explained that a woman nearby started to call to her dog and then began to approach the table.
As she came closer, Zacharias said the woman grabbed Onyx’s leash and started to walk away with the dog.
“I didn’t think that somebody was stealing my dog,” she explained.
“I thought it was a misunderstanding, so I said, ‘That’s my dog. Excuse me,’ and she wasn’t listening.”
However, the woman allegedly did not stop and instead made her way to a car outside.
Zacharias told KTLA that she followed the woman to the car and attempted to get inside the vehicle as well, but found four other people inside.
She claimed the individuals pushed her out of the car and locked the doors.
To prevent them from getting away with Onyx, Zacharias said she stood in front of the car and began to yell for help.
“Nobody came and the next thing I know, the car’s driving into me and I fell onto the hood,” she said.
Video of the incident appears to show Zacharias clinging tightly to the hood of the getaway car as it drives off at a high speed.
Zacharias has described the experience as “horrifying.”
“As he started to go faster and faster I’m like, ‘I’m about to die. This is my death. Right now. I’m about to die.’”
The car reportedly continued down the street for several blocks before it made a turn that threw Zacharias off of the vehicle.
The vehicle has been described as a white Kia Forte sedan with a missing hubcap on the front left side.
Zacharias has described the group of thieves three women and one male, all of whom she said were African-American.
She claimed they were all wearing “sweats and t-shirts.”
The victim went on to explain that police have since obtained surveillance footage to help identify the suspects and track down the vehicle’s license plate.
Zacharias’ dog is still missing and is described as a black Merle French bulldog with a spotted coat and different colored eyes.
The victim told KTLA that she is offering a substantial reward for the return of Onyx.
Those with any information have been encouraged to contact Zacharias at 626-264-7923 or the Los Angeles Police Department.
“They stole my child away from me,” Zacharias said.
“I’m just praying that I can get him back.”