Naperville van stolen with driver's dog sleeping inside

Gene Voss' daily routes to pick up and deliver dry cleaning have been pretty lonely the past few days.

Voss' delivery van was stolen about 9:15 a.m. Wednesday from the parking lot of Voss' One Hour Martinizing Cleaners at 215 E. Ogden Ave., Naperville.

Sleeping inside the back of the green 2001 Chevrolet minivan was his 13-year-old black Labrador retriever, "Lilly."

"She's ridden with me on my routes for as long as I've had her, since she was a pup, so all my customers know Lilly," Voss said Friday. "She usually just lays in the back of the van and sleeps, but I would talk to her."

Voss said he pulled into the parking lot Wednesday to pick up a few orders. Within just a few minutes, he said, he went back out and his van was gone.

Witnesses told police and Voss that a woman, about 25 years old with blonde hair, wearing a light-colored top, shorts, gym shoes and dark-rimmed glasses, was seen getting into and driving the vehicle east on Ogden Avenue.

"I know I shouldn't have left the keys in it, but I did," Voss said. "I never would have imagined that there are cars stolen, in broad daylight, at 9:15 a.m. in this busy area of Naperville."

Describing himself as "pretty sad and bitter about the whole ordeal," Voss, 64, doesn't care if he ever sees the van again.

But he's pleading for anyone who knows where Lilly is to come forward.

"I'm a single person," Voss said. "Lilly is my roommate and a great companion."

She also can be a hassle for someone not used to caring for elderly animals, he said.

"She has bad knees and arthritis so she needs to be physically helped up and down sometimes," he said. "She needs her arthritis medicine and some help getting around."

Despite being less than mobile, Voss said Lilly rode to work with him every day and often greeted customers, many of whom were happy to see her. Some regular customers would even bring her treats on occasion.

"I don't care about the van and customers don't care what I deliver their clothes in, but we all want Lilly back," he said. "My customers have been making posters and networking because they're also concerned about her."

Voss said he is constantly checking with vets, shelters and animal control officials in an attempt to find Lilly. But he realizes his chances of seeing her again lessen as the days go on.

"My fear is that people won't see her because she's not out running around loose," he said. "If I know that dog, she's either still sleeping in the back of the van or hanging out laying down somewhere cool."

There is a $1,000 reward for information that helps find Lilly. Anyone with any information is asked to call Naperville Crime Stoppers at (630) 420-6006.