An Illinois man has been charged with burglary for allegedly breaking into an animal control facility and stealing his own dog, as well as freeing three others.
The Madison County, Illinois, sheriffs department says that Glen Carbon resident Thomas P. Carroll, 20, couldn't come up with the $125 in fines and fees to bail his pet Weimaraner, named Titus, out of the dog pound, so he allegedly broke in to get his dog.
Three stray dogs were also freed, but police suspect that Carroll only did it to provide a distraction and help cover his tracks. No property was taken from the humane society; the only things missing were Titus and the three other dogs.
A brief investigation quickly focused on Carroll as a prime suspect, and authorities soon found him. He was charged Tuesday with two felony burglary counts, and as of Wednesday, he remained jailed on $50,000 bond.
According to Madison County Sheriff's Lt. Brad Wells, animal control officers told Carroll on April 5 they had picked up Titus after finding him running loose. Then, five days later, workers at the Metro East Humane Society and at the county's neighboring animal-control building found that their buildings had been broken into.
Titus was to be returned to Madison County and is scheduled to be put up for adoption.
Posted: April 13, 2006, 5 a.m. EST