AN 81-YEAR-OLD gave chase when two teenagers stole his pet pooch.

Len Dye was walking his pitbull terrier, Buzz, through Gravesend when he was targeted by the boy and girl.

He tied the two-year-old dog to railings outside The Compton Cafe, High Street, Gravesend, while he went in to get it a drink of water.

When he came out he saw two teenagers running off with the chocolate brown pooch.

Mr Dye wasted no time and chased the teenagers.

The retired factory worker said: "I have worked hard all my life. To see two youngsters openly taking something of mine just made me see red."

Mr Dye, of St Mary's Road, Greenhithe, lost them through the crowds of shoppers and thought "all hope was lost".

But he was put back on track by a shop assistant who saw the youngsters making off with Buzz.

Mr Dye chased them to Gravesend station, Rathmore Road, Gravesend, where he approached them and asked for Buzz back.

He said: "I called Buzz and he came running towards me, but they stopped him and pulled him back."

Mr Dye says the teenagers "violently swore" at him and threatened to push him under a train unless he left them alone.

He said: "I tried to take a picture of them on my mobile phone but they ran towards me and threw the phone on the floor.

"The girl then kicked me several times and they both ran off. I just didn't have it in me to run after them anymore.

"Buzz was part of the family and I will miss him so much.

"He could be anywhere, they could be torturing him or using him to fight other dogs. I want him back home."

A police spokesman said: "The CCTV has been collected and is being viewed by officers to see if the offenders can be identified."

The pair are aged between 17 and 18. The boy was wearing a red top and light grey trousers while the girl was wearing a white jacket.

Anybody with information about the theft, which occured at 4.30pm on August 7, should call police on 01474 565220.