Puppy stolen from Naperville pet store, police say
NAPERVILLE, Ill. (WLS) -- Police are investigating the brazen theft of a puppy from a pet store in west suburban Naperville.
The 12-week old female Pomeranian puppy named Bella was stolen from the Petland store on Route 59 just before 4:30 p.m. Sunday by a man and a woman who may be a couple, police said.
"I'm in shock. I'm just surprised at how brazen a move that was just to take the puppy and walk out of the store," said manager Carl Swanson.
Swanson said the puppy would normally sell for about $2,500 but his primary concern is not the money; he's worried about the dog's well-being and health. Because she is so young, she hasn't had all her vaccinations.
The couple and their actions were caught on surveillance video. They entered the store Sunday afternoon asking about Bella. On the video, you can see the man and woman are left alone with Bella in a play area.
A few minutes pass without anything out of the ordinary happening but as employees are called to the back to help some customers, the couple left the play area. They slowly wandered toward the door, pretending to look at other dogs.
"I think absolutely they were scheming. 'How can we get out of the store with this puppy?'" Swanson said.
They eventually made their move, calmly leaving the storm with Bella in the man's arms.
This isn't the first time this Petland location has been hit. In 2013, cameras captured a woman leaving the same store with a puppy. A year later, a man was seen exiting with another dog. Both of the dogs taken in those incidents were later recovered.
Swanson is hoping Bella will be returned.
"Bring the puppy home. Bring it back, please, so we can find a good home for it," Swandon said.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Naperville Police Department at 630-420-8511.
