DENVER — In an audacious heist, thieves made off with two costly bulldog puppies from a Colorado pet store, using an elaborate distraction to carry out the theft. According to authorities, a man pretended to have a seizure, drawing the attention of store employees, while his accomplice swiftly took the puppies from their enclosure and made a hasty exit. The incident, which took place on Sunday, was caught on the store’s surveillance cameras.
The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office reported that three men entered the pet store located in the Denver suburbs at staggered times. They wandered around the store, inquiring about the puppies, each valued at $4,299. During this time, one of the men, aged 37, simulated a medical emergency. Meanwhile, another of the group removed the pen’s lid, seized two puppies, and attempted to flee the store. Despite an employee’s intervention, which momentarily caused the man to drop the puppies, he managed to recover them and escape alongside a second suspect.
They made their get-away in a gold Cadillac Escalade, notable for its tinted windows and absence of license plates, which was waiting outside the store. One man, the alleged ‘seizure victim,’ has since been apprehended on charges that include conspiracy to commit a felony, theft, and drug possession. Authorities continue to search for the other accomplices, including the driver of the getaway car.
In a turn of events, one of the stolen puppies was safely returned by a woman. After purchasing the puppy for $1,500 from a street seller, she recognized its resemblance to the stolen dogs featured in news reports about the incident and decided to bring it back to its rightful place.
