Three-legged thief caught 'red-pawed'

INVERCARGILL, New Zealand (NBC/APTN) - A dog with three legs has become a star in New Zealand after security cameras caught him stealing pet food.

Oscar is a German short-haired pointer whose owners are said to be on vacation.

Customers appeared amused to see Oscar walk into a store and grab a package of dog food from a cooler before then strolling out.

Alray Dairy owner Esmay Hay said Oscar’s an unusual shoplifter but suspects he is a repeat offender.

"They are usually of the two-legged kind!” said dairy owner Hay. "We've noticed movement on the security cameras out the back, and there's been nobody here. So we're assuming now that Oscar may have paid us a visit before."

A city council official said Oscar escaped while his owner was on vacation and would remain at the pound until he was reclaimed.

"The owner's gone on holiday, put it out to other family members to look after, and because they haven't got the fencing to keep him in, he's got out," said John Youngson, with the Invercargill City Council.