Police: Pug Puppy Stolen From L.I. Store Returned; Woman Charged

HUNTINGTON, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) – Police in Suffolk County said a woman has been charged with stealing a puppy worth $1,800 from a pet store in Huntington last month.

Krista Kazan of Hauppauge was arrested and charged with grand larceny on Saturday.

Around 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 17, police said Kazan walked into the Yipity Yap pet store on East Jericho Turnpike with a big, dark-colored bag hanging off her arm.

Store employees said she posed as a customer and told a clerk she wanted to buy a black, 9-week-old pug.

"One of our sales associates took the pug out and gave it to the customer in one of our secure puppy rooms," salesman Felix Ramirez said. "By the time he came back, both the customer and the puppy were missing. She took advantage that the sales associate turned his back for a quick second, stuffed the puppy in her purse and then brazenly walked out the door."

After police released surveillance video of the suspect, a family member returned the puppy to the store, police said.

Police arrested Kazan at her home. She was arraigned at the First District Court in Central Islip on Sunday.