1 Crime Of Opportunity
A little dog by the name of “Mookie” was left locked inside a parked car at the University Town Center parking lot in Irvine, California. Surveillance footage shows exactly how the theft unfolded: Dognapper walked up to the car on the rear passenger side, interacted with the dog, and then took it out via the cracked window. The entire incident took 40 seconds. Keep reading to learn more and see the video.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb
2 Lost and Found
Mookie’s owner posted about the incident on a pet-recovery website, in hopes someone would have seen the dog or knew what happened. Someone did respond—Choi. According to Choi, his roommate came home with a dog matching Mookie’s description, and he would return the pet for a fee.
3 Busted
Mookie’s owner agreed to meet Choi at a mutually agreed upon location, to exchange the dog and the money. What Choi didn’t realize is that law enforcement was involved: When Choi arrived, officers were waiting. He was arrested and charged with grand theft, and Mookie was safely returned to his owner.
4 Pet-Napping
Stealing a dog in California can result in serious fines or even prison time. If a dog is worth more than $950, it’s considered grand theft—otherwise it’s petty theft. If a dog is stolen from private property, burglary charges can be brought on the perpetrator. Grand theft can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a penalty, which can be punishable by up to 3 years in prison.
5 Never Leave Your Dog In a Car
Leaving your pet alone in a car could result not only in theft but possible death. “Never leave your pet unattended in a parked car for any period of time,” warns the Humane Society. “On a warm day, the temperature in a car can exceed 120° in a matter of minutes—even with the windows partially open. Your pet can quickly suffer brain damage or die from heatstroke or suffocation.”
