Police in Aurora, Colorado are investigating a troubling case involving a U.S. Airman whose dog and car were allegedly stolen while he was deployed overseas.
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Andrew Beckham says he selected a man, identified as Andrew Jansen, to house-sit while he was away. But days later, both the sitter and Beckham's belongings vanished.
Maverick, an 11-year-old Siberian husky, was seen being taken outside and placed into Beckham's 2014 Subaru Forester before being driven away.
US Airman Dog Missing After House Sitter Allegedly Flees
Beckham believes Jansen may have suffered a "mental break," leading to the sudden disappearance.
"I am looking for this person. He was housesitting for me while I am deployed with the Air Force," the airman wrote in a post shared on Facebook, via the New York Post. "He has stopped all contact and taken Maverick and my vehicle."
"(The house sitter) is having a mental break of paranoia and has run away with my car and dog 4 days ago with no contact and no phone."
"He has not been found and he has my dog," Beckham added.
The dog owner said he found Jansen through Trusted House Sitters, a platform that connects pet owners with third party sitters similar to Airbnb. He has since reached out to the company for assistance.
Beckham also reviewed home security footage, which appears to show Jansen taking Maverick and leaving in the vehicle without informing him.
Owner Speaks Out as Search Continues
In a concerning twist, Beckham revealed that about an hour before the disappearance, Jansen called police claiming someone was attempting to break into the property.
Since then, all communication has stopped.
"He seemed scared of something. I don't know what, but he seemed really scared," Beckham told KDVR. "I feel like I've lost a part of home. Like there's a hole in my chest where he should be."
"Maverick has been with me through deployments, through long days, through lonely nights. Losing him, it's just heartbreaking."
Beckham rescued Maverick as a puppy while stationed in Spain and has had him for 11 years, describing the dog as his "best buddy for a long time."
The airman said he hopes everyone involved is safe and that the situation can be resolved soon.
Maverick is described as having one blue eye, one brown eye, and a missing toe. The blue 2014 Subaru Forester carries the license plate BMEN70.
