SAN DIEGO -- San Diego police Sunday were investigating an abduction in which a man and his newly purchased pit bull were snatched off an Encanto street, and the dog was stolen in a case of what may have been mistaken identity -- the dog's.

The man was walking the blue-nosed pit bull, which he had just bought, about 11:10 a.m. Saturday in the 6000 block of Imperial Avenue when two cars pulled up and a man jumped out of one saying, "that is my dog," said San Diego police Sgt. Mike Shirashi.

The man was shoved into one of the cars with the dog and driven around the neighborhood, he said. The kidnapper told him, "I have a gun. I will shoot you for my dog," Shirashi said.

The victim ultimately surrendered the pit bull, valued at $400, and was let go somewhere in southeast San Diego, the sergeant said.

If caught, the suspects could face kidnapping and robbery charges.