CHANDLER, Ariz. -- An English Bulldog puppy worth more than $4,000 was stolen from a Chandler pet store Tuesday evening.

The 30-pound puppy, nicknamed Frank the Tank by workers at Chandler Fashion Center's Puppies N Love, was taken while a pet counselor was busy showing another dog to a family.

The worker left Frank the Tank's cage unlocked. When she returned to show him to a waiting family, the family told her they'd seen a man pull Frank the Tank from his crate and leave the store. Workers and customers chased the man through the mall and said he jumped into a small red car with a getaway driver.

Bulldogs are the store's most expensive breed. A woman who planned to buy Frank the Tank after losing her own Bulldog last weekend said the puppy cost $4,400.

Frank the Tank is outfitted with a microchip and an alert was sent out via HelpMeFindMyPet.com. Chandler police also took a report.

The man who stole Frank the Tank is described as a white man in his early 20s. He wore a baseball cap and left in a red Toyota Celica with a spoiler and Arizona license plates.

Frank the Tank is four months old. He has a multicolored nose, an underbite and a scratch above his right eye. He has his front dewclaws and has not been neutered.

Store workers said the puppy's safety was their primary concern. Small breed dogs require special care and if Frank the Tank is not cared for properly, he could die.

Police said such thefts happen occasionally but tend to peak around the holidays.

Anyone with information is asked to call Chandler police or contact HelpMeFindMyPet.com.