Caught On Tape: Man Steals Puppy, Gets Bitten By Marsupial
ELMWOOD PARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A brazen bandit stole a precious puppy from a pet store in New Jersey, but the thief was caught – and caught getting bitten by another animal – on tape.
As CBS 2's Dick Brennan reported, Fawnie the puppy has been left without his roommate after someone stole Blackie, a 7-week-old English bulldog, right out of the cage at the Aquarium at Route 4, at 143 Broadway in Elmwood Park, N.J.
"He's adorable, and was the smallest dog in there, so he was easy, I guess, for the guy to snatch up," said store employee Mary Lou Karachun.
Police said it was all captured on surveillance tape – the man enters the store and walks up to the puppies. He grabs Blackie, pauses, then heads into a nearby bathroom, where he apparently sneaked the dog out a window.
"I came upstairs to clean the dogs, and when I reached in, I realized one was missing," said store employee Jaime Timpone.
But the owner said the thief was not done yet. He met his match, with an angry marsupial. He seemed to get bitten or snapped at by a sugar glider, a tiny creature with a real bad attitude.
"He was smart," said store owner Joe Aversa. "He fought back."
Dogs such as the one the man stole are valuable. Blackie sells for $3,500.
The puppy was supposed to get his shots this week, and was not ready to leave the store.
"He could get sick, and anything could happen to him," Timpone said.
The store is offering a $1,000 reward for the return of little Blackie.
Police Monday night were also looking for a woman who was seen with the suspect in the store.
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