But the eight-year-old dog was pinched on Sunday (Aug 7) morning.

Ellie had managed to run out of the house but Lina claims two people in a red BMW stopped and told passersby they were the owners.

She said they then snatched the dog and drove off with her in broad daylight.

Lina, 40, added: “This sort of thing just doesn’t seem to happen back in our home town of Kharkiv.

“But we arrive here in England and within a few days Ellie is snatched.”

Ring doorbell footage showed the moment the BMW stopped in the middle of the road outside the family’s house.

Ellie then could be seen running out.

A Met Police spokesperson said: “A dog stolen from a family who had recently arrived in the UK from Ukraine has been returned to them following a proactive investigation.

“Police were contacted at approximately 1:40pm on Sunday, August 7 after Yorkshire Terror ‘Ellie’ was stolen from their address in Ellison Road SW16 earlier that morning.

“Officers from the Central South Command Unit’s Safer Neighbourhoods Team began investigating, and following witness, CCTV and vehicle enquiries police attended an address in Surrey, where Ellie was located safe and well.

“She has since been returned to her family. They were kept updated at each stage of the investigation.

“Enquiries continue with regards the circumstances around her theft. 

“No arrests have been made at this time.”