"We just want Loki home;" Local family makes desperate plea for return of missing dog, who was inside their vehicle when it was stolen

A Los Angeles family is pleading with the person who stole their vehicle from East Hollywood on Saturday to return their beloved dog, Loki. 

Loki was inside of the vehicle when a man entered the vehicle and drove it away from where it was parked outside of Mats Gymnastic Center near Vermont Center and Vermont Place at around 2 p.m.

They had to leave him in the car since he's not allowed inside of the gymnasium, but left the car on with the air running. 

"Loki... I'm sorry," Tara Luhv said through tears. "I'm not excusing my actions, I shouldn't have left him in the car. I should not have left him."

Surveillance footage from The Hollywood Hotel across the street shows a man circling the white Honda Pilot several times before entering through the driver's door, where he quickly made a u-turn and drove away from the scene. 

The vehicle has Wisconsin license plates.

The Luhv family just recently moved to the Los Angeles area, relocating from Wisconsin in search of what they called "the dream L.A. life."

"We came here for opportunity," said Luhv.

Instead they were subjected to the harsh realities that are plaguing much of L.A. County in recent months, with crime rates rising at an alarming rate.

Now, they're making a desperate plea for the return of their beloved family pet, who they say suffers from severe separation anxiety - offering a $5,000 reward for his return - no questions asked.

She figured that since she had her key fob with her, no one would be able to drive away with her vehicle.

Luhv doesn't care about getting the car back, she only cares about Loki returning home safely. 

"I will pay a reward and not ask questions, we need him back," she said.

A flier posted by the family details that Loki is a two-year old Pomeranian mix with a Japanese Chin and an Alaskan Eskimo, with a distinct underbite. 

"He's got a really loud, screechy bark - that's his defense mechanism," she said. "If he's scared he might growl, but other than that if he's not intimidated, he is the sweetest and just wants attention from everybody."

His collar is blue with hamburgers on it, as well as his rabies tag. 

They are asking anyone with any information to contact them at (657) 246-6228.

"We just want Loki home," they said via the flier.