Edwin Herrera has been charged with possessing a stolen vehicle, cruelty to animals, criminal trespassing and more, CPD said Wednesday.
The theft happened at about 8:55 a.m. outside Animal Lovers Pet Salon on North Clybourn, police said.
The dogs were being dropped off after spending time at Markay's Castle of the Dogs, a dog boarding facility in Tippecanoe, Indiana.
David Cox, the owner of the boarding facility, said he was dropping off the pets in Lincoln Park. He left the vehicle running to keep the animals comfortable.
"I just went inside with the dogs' belongings and turned around to come out and get the dogs to take them inside, and the van was gone," Cox said.
Cox says the thief tossed the cellphone he had left in the van on the street after stealing the vehicle.
With the help of lots of social media posts about the theft, Chicago police tracked down the 2021 blue and black transit van in an alley near Lakewood and Oakdale avenues in Lakeview.
The vehicle's license plates had been changed by the time it was found by police.
Along with the dogs, the van had some lawn equipment, an air mattress and trash.
All dogs were unharmed and reunited with their owners.
The pet transport now says they'll add additional security to try to make sure this doesn't happen again.
Herrera was due in court Wednesday.
The video in the player above is from an earlier report.