A golden retriever became an unwitting accomplice to a $1,300 bike theft after the suspect stopped to give out belly rubs before riding away

• The San Diego Police Department shared footage of a man stealing a bike from someone's garage. 
• The footage shows that before the man left with the bike, the owner's golden retriever came outside.
• Rather than barking at the stranger, the dog befriended the man, even letting him rub his belly.

A San Diego golden retriever proved too friendly to be a guard dog.

A man was suspected of stealing an electric bike that costs around $1,300 from a garage on July 15, as the San Diego Police Department shared in a Facebook post on August 3. The department told Insider the unknown man is "still outstanding" as of Monday.

Police released surveillance footage from the incident in the Facebook post, which revealed that the homeowner's golden retriever ran into the garage just before the burglary suspect, who was wearing a baseball hat and a backpack, was going to leave with the bike. 

But the footage shows that rather than stopping the robbery, the golden retriever befriended the man. 

In the footage, the dog ran out to greet the man excitedly just before he rode off with the bike.

The man then said, "Hi buddy," put the bike down, and started petting the dog while he wagged his tail excitedly.

"You're the coolest dog I've ever known," he told the dog, according to the video. "I love you too. You're a sweetheart."

The video shows that the dog then laid down so the man would rub his belly, seemingly luxuriating in the affection.

"Where's your dad?" the man asked while rubbing the dog's belly. "Your dad should not leave your garage open."

After the dog licked his face and got a few final pets, the man appeared to leave with the bike while the dog watched from the garage, tail wagging.

ABC7 Chicago shared the video on TikTok on Sunday, and it's racked up nearly 5 million views as of Monday. Many people left comments saying the video didn't surprise them, as they know many overly-friendly golden retrievers.

"This is the most golden retriever thing I've ever seen," one TikToker wrote. 

"Goldies are too trusting for their own good," someone else wrote.

Police have yet to identify the suspect, though they said on Facebook that the bike would be easily recognizable.

"This isn't your average bike; it's distinct, featuring '8-ball' caps on the tire valves, an '8-ball' logo on the frame, and a rear wheel frame marked with a checkered black and white pattern," the police department said in its Facebook statement.