York Regional Police say the attempted theft of a dog in King Township on Wednesday afternoon is likely linked to a similar incident that occurred in Mississauga on the same day.

Police say a 54-year-old Barrie woman who was selling Maltese Poodle puppies went to a carpool lot in the area of Highway 400 and Highway 9 to meet potential buyers at around 4 p.m.

"We understand she was actually trying to sell two puppies and she had actually sold the first one and after she had made that sale, another vehicle drove up, an older model white Honda Civic with two men inside," Sgt. Andy Pattenden told CP24 on Thursday morning.

"One of the guys got out, assaulted the victim, grabbed the puppy who was in a carrier and tried to flee. But I can tell you the victim was feisty. She wasn't going to give up without a fight. She did end up chasing the suspects, who tried to drive away."

Pattenden said the suspects got the dog into the car and as they were driving away, they tossed the puppy, who was still inside the carrier, out of the window.

"We think it is possibly because they saw an OPP cruiser that was in the area at the time," Pattenden said. "Thankfully the puppy and the victim were not injured."

In a tweet, police confirmed that they believe the attempted theft is likely connected to a similar incident that occurred in Mississauga later that day.

About an hour after the attempted robbery in King Township, police said a puppy was stolen at gunpoint in Mississauga.

Peel police say the seller of a Maltese Poodle puppy met two men in the area of Lakeshore Road West and Lorne Park Road at around 5 p.m.

Maltese Poodle

As the transaction was about to begin, one of the suspects brandished a black handgun and demanded that the victim hand over the puppy.

The victim complied and surrendered the dog to the suspects, who then fled.

The victim was not physically injured.

Police confirmed that the male puppy who was stolen is about nine weeks old.

The suspects in both cases have been described as young males who are in their late teens or early 20s.

Police also said that in both incidents, one of the suspects was wearing green pants.

Investigators are asking witnesses or anyone with dash camera footage of the areas to come forward.