The puppy valued at $699 was the 20th puppy stolen from this pet store in the 7 years that pet shop owner Alex Walker has owned the business.  17 of the 20 stolen dogs have been recovered because of microchips and video surveillance cameras.

(Photo courtesy of Little Shop of Pets video surveillance) 2 men and a woman are seen on surveillance tape for about 8 minutes before one of the white males about 5feet 8 inches tall wearing a blue sweatshirt and tan cargo shorts grabs the puppy from a pen closest to the front door and walks out without paying.  Walker believes the woman purchased a book about beagles, using her credit card, 2 days before the theft of this puppy.

The thieves were able to dognap the pup because 2 food deliveries  were coming through both front and back doors at the time and distracted store employees.

The pets are not kept in cages at this pet store only in open pens and store owner Walker said that this latest theft will not motivate him to cage them.

  (Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Dinan, Portsmouth Herald)   The puppy was returned on 4/4/07.  He has a slight cold but is otherwise in good condition.  A telephone tip lead to the identification of all 3 suspects.  The 3 an 18-year-old woman and the 16 & 17 year old males will be arrested soon.

Update 4/8/07:

  (Photo courtesy of Portsmouth Police)  Creamer, age 17 of 1512 State Road, Eliot Maine, has been charged with theft by unauthorized taking of a beagle puppy from Little Shop of Pets on Lafayette Rd. in Portsmouth, NH.

Creamer, charged with  1 count of a Class B felony theft, was released on $5,000 personal recognizance bail.  He is scheduled for arraignment on 4/30/07.  Additional arrests are expected according to police.

Update April 11, 2007:

  (Photo courtesy ofseacoastonline.com) Aurora Smith, age 18 of 73 Goodwin Rd, Eliot, ME turned herself in on a charge of receiving stolen property, a Class A misdemeanor.  The 3rd co-conspirator was also charged but not named because he is a juvenile.

Update May 2, 2007:

Creamer plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge of theft by unauthorized taking in a plea agreement.  Judge Sawako Gardner imposed a 6 month suspended prison sentence pending good behavior for 1 year.  Creamer is also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine with $500 of it suspended and must perform 50 hours of community service within 6 months and must stay away from the pet shop.

Reference:

Manchester Union Leader

Portsmouth Herald