'Creepy clown' allegedly steals puppy from Queensland RSPCA

An alleged thief wearing a terrifying clown mask is accused of stealing a four-month-old puppy from an RSPCA shelter in Queensland.

At around 2am on Saturday, a person dressed in jeans, a black jumper and a mask broke into the RSPCA Dakabin Animal Care Campus.

The mask resembled Pennywise the clown from Stephen King's It, with a white face, black markings near the eyes and red hair.

On Facebook, RSPCA Dakabin said a female staffy mix called Cashew was taken.

Cashew is identifiable by a white mark on her chest, the RSPCA said.

Queensland Police were called to the shelter and collected evidence in relation to the theft of Cashew.

"We are currently working with the Queensland Police on the safe return of Cashew," the RSPCA said.

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"If you have any information of the whereabouts of Cashew the puppy, please call our 24/7 hotline on 1300 ANIMAL (1300 264 625), or notify Police on 1800 333 000 with reference QP2200470989."

Before she was taken, Cashew was waiting to be taken home by her adopters. The team at the RSPCA said they were "devastated" by her abduction.

"Our whole team is absolutely devastated, and so too are the adopters that were due to take Cashew home," RSPCA spokesperson Emma Lagoon said.

CCTV pictures of the suspect were shared to the RSPCA's Facebook page.

On Facebook, many decried the "despicable" actions of the suspect, though a few just hoped Cashew was safe.

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