MA: Suspects sought in Cape puppy theft
HYANNIS — The Barnstable police are searching for three suspects who allegedly stole a puppy from a pet store inside the Cape Cod Mall two days before Christmas. The 9-week-old black-and-white border collie, which was found unharmed wandering down Old Mill Road a few hours after the theft, was swiped from Debbie's Pet Land on Dec. 23.
The police said two men and a woman asked to play with the dog around 2:30 p.m.
Store Manager Skyler Sheehan said she followed company protocol by checking the identification of all three suspects — described as two Hispanic males and one white woman all in their early 20s — to make sure they were over the age of 18.
While the suspects were playing with the border collie, there was a problem with one of the other dogs that required the staff's attention, Sheehan said.
When Sheehan returned, the suspects and the dog were missing. Sheehan said she immediately called mall security and the police, who said a witness outside of the mall saw the two men holding a puppy and running toward the Courtyard Marriott hotel.
Another pair of witnesses told the police they saw the men get into a "white Lincoln with chrome rims." Witnesses said both men were wearing New York Yankee hats, clothing and accessories.
At 6:45 p.m., a good Samaritan found the dog walking down the middle of Old Mill Road near Race Lane, Barnstable police Sgt. Sean Sweeney said. "We don't know why, but obviously they took the dog and then threw him out," Sweeney said.
The dog was not hurt and was returned to Debbie's Pet Land. The unnamed puppy retails for $1,060, Sheehan said.
The police searched the area around Old Mill Road for the suspect vehicle, but found nothing. None of the store employees remember the names or hometowns on the drivers licenses of the male suspects, but Sheehan said the woman had a Falmouth address. No arrests have been made, Sweeney said.
Sheehan said she can't remember a similar incident in her two years on the job, but said interest in puppies definitely increases during the holidays.
The store sold 10 dogs in the past week, Sheehan said. Sheehan said the border collie is looking for a home and is featured in the store's front window.
