Puppies stolen from Bolingbrook, Naperville found near St. Louis

Article posted: 11/10/2013 4:47 PM

Two puppies stolen from Petland stores in Bolingbrook and Naperville Friday are safe in St. Louis, according to company officials.

Adam Stachowiak, owner of the Naperville Petland store at 720 Route 59, said in an email that a man fled after dropping off the puppies in a kennel Sunday at a Petland store in St. Louis. The puppies were with another Maltese puppy that was stolen from the St. Louis store Saturday afternoon.

Stachowiak said the puppies appear to be in good condition and the two from Bolingbrook and Naperville are heading back to their respective stores soon.

Surveillance video from Friday showed a woman stealing a male, 14-week-old white Maltese puppy named Hercules from the Bolingbrook Petland store at 744 W. Boughton Road. About 30 minutes later, a person who appeared to be the same woman stole a male, 10-week-old white Havanese puppy named Casper from the Petland in Naperville.

Petland employees reported that in both cases, the woman asked to see one of the white puppies and then distracted the pet counselor so she could place the puppy in a bag before leaving the store.