Bulldog Puppies Stolen - Two 10-week old British bulldog puppies that were stolen from a Pico Rivera pet shop during a robbery on Christmas eve have both been returned to the shop in good condition by local residents.
Pico Rivera Sheriff Lieutenant Sergio V. Escobedo told My Fox LA that one of the dogs was found by a resident of West Whittier walking near her home on Christmas day. She returned it to the pet shop. The other dog was returned to the shop by an unidentified person the following day.
Police say media coverage of the robbery was instrumental in the recovery of the puppies and the arrest of the suspects.
On Christmas day, Pico Rivera Police executed a search warrant on a home in West Whittler and took the gunman who robbed Mr. Bulldog pet shop into custody.
Miriam Guillen, the manager of Mr. Bulldog, told ABC7 that when the unidentified juvenile came into the shop at 12:30 p.m. on Christmas eve brandishing a weapon, he threatened to shoot the father of the stolen bulldog puppies after it attempted to attack him during the heist.
The suspect made away with about $500 and the two puppies, which are estimated to be $2,500 each. Reports indicate that the dogs were so young that they were still being fed goat milk.
Escobedo said an accomplice who dropped off the unidentified robber in a car has also turned himself in. Jonathan Mora was caught on surveillance camera as he dropped off the suspect in a BMW sedan. Police have arrested him on suspicion of robbery. His bail has been set at $50,000.
Escobedo said a female juvenile was also arrested in connection with the robbery. This is reportedly the fourth time that Mr. Bulldog pet shop has been robbed in the past 6 years.
"We tell business owners if you're confronted with an armed suspect to just comply with their demands. It avoids the owners or any patrons of the location from getting hurt," Escodebo said.
