Police in a Fontana, Calif., about an hour east of Los Angeles are looking for a person or people who, during separate incidents, may have stolen two sets of puppies worth a combined $4,000.
On April 7 a man responded to an ad in a newspaper for two Silky Terriers, saying that he wanted to buy them for his wife. And although it was late in the evening, the seller invited him to her Fontana home to see the dogs.
Minutes after he arrived however, the man snatched the puppies which were valued at $1,200 each then jumped in a waiting vehicle and fled.
The next day at about 1:30 p.m., a similar incident occurred when a man stole two Maltese puppies from another Fontana home. The owner had been asking $800 each for the pups, according to Fontana Police Sgt. William Megenney.
In the first incident, police say, the thief fled in a white Jeep Cherokee and in the second, the getaway car was a blue Ford Escape. However the same person is suspected to be responsible for both thefts. There was a getaway driver in both incidents.
Police are warning dog breeders not to invite potential buyers over to view their dogs at night and to have someone with them for the showing.
Anyone with information on these incidents may call the Fontana Police Dept. at (909) 350-7700.
Posted: April 15, 2006, 5 a.m. EST