LOS ANGELES (AP) — A grinch has stolen a little bit more of John Schneider's Christmas than the law will allow: a couple of puppies.

Car thieves swiped Schneider's sport utility vehicle at a suburban Los Angeles mall last week, including the pups that were early Christmas gifts for his children.

The SUV has since been found — but no dogs.

Schneider himself searched the neighborhood for the Yorkie and Yorkie-Poodle mix. He says he's certain whoever took the SUV is caring for the dogs, or even re-gifting them.

But the man who played a different kind of true modern-day Robin Hood — Bo Duke — believes the story, first reported by TMZ, will end with the equivalent of a freeze-frame smile.

"I think we're going to get my dogs back," he said.

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