A man who claimed his pet pug dog was stolen at knife-point in Sydney Olympic Park earlier this month has been charged with making a false report to police about the late-night armed robbery, which police allege never happened.
However, police are still searching for the 14-week-old puppy, named Egg, who has been missing since February 9 when his owner claimed he had been stolen.
On that night, the 29-year-old man told police he was walking Egg near the corner of Australia Avenue and Parkview Drive about 10.30pm when he was confronted by three men who were armed with knives.
The man told police the offenders demanded his wallet and backpack, which he handed over to them.
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As the offenders were leaving, they also grabbed Egg and ran away, the man told police at the time.
He even provided a description of the offenders to police, saying they were of Mediterranean or Middle Eastern in appearance, and aged about 30. Two of the men were said to be of slim build and the third man was of a large build with a bald head and a goatee, he claimed.
Police launched an investigation into the reported robbery and asked for the public to keep a look-out for Egg, described as being a smaller breed of pug and wearing a red-coiled collar when he went missing.
At the time, Detective Inspector Paul Arnold said Egg's owner was "extremely distraught" and did not want to speak to the media.
"Not only does he have the trauma of being the victim of quite a severe robbery ... but also the fact that his prized possession, being a pug, has been stolen," Detective Inspector Arnold said the day after the reported robbery.
"Any person who has a dog knows what it's like to go without a pet which you've nurtured and cared for."
About 7.15pm on Tuesday, the 29-year-old man went to Auburn police station where he was questioned by officers from the Flemington Local Area Command.
Police then issued the man with a future court attendance notice for false representation resulting in a police investigation. He is due to appear in Burwood Local Court on April 6.
A NSW Police spokesman said on Wednesday it was not clear why the man allegedly made up the story. It was not known whether he was the co-owner of the puppy.
"The main thing is, we really don't know what has happened to Egg or where Egg is," he said.
"Anyone with information of the dog's whereabouts is urged to contact police."