Dognap Suspects Nabbed; 3 Of 4 Dogs Found

A second suspect turned himself in Sunday, more than a week after four purebred Yorkshire terrier puppies were stolen at gunpoint during a home invasion robbery in Koreatown.

Police say Troy Cabral, 23, turned himself in around 10 a.m. and was booked for investigation of residential robbery. Officer Mike Lopez, a spokesman for the LAPD, says Cabral was released hours later after posting $100,000 bail.

Three puppies, valued at $2,500 each, and a full-grown family pet named Tan-ja were reunited with their owners about 8:30 p.m. at the Wilshire Division police station. One puppy remained missing, police said.

Police say three of the Yorkies were recovered after another suspect, 19-year-old Ryan Betton, surrendered on Friday and was booked for investigation of residential robbery. Authorities say Betton posted $100,000 bail and was released early Saturday.

The puppies had been advertised for sale in a newspaper and two men posing as buyers made an appointment to see them. They went to a home in the city's Koreatown section on Feb. 23.

When a woman opened the door, one of the men pulled a gun. The men came in and ordered the family of four to lie on the living room floor.

A home surveillance camera caught the scene as one man held a gun and the other chased after the puppies with a plastic garbage bag as they scampered around the room and underneath a coffee table.

He snatched one of the dogs from a woman's hands.

No one was injured.

LAPD Detective Luis Corona said before they were returned, the dogs were found in several places, including Long Beach.

Authorities believe the robbers didn't intend to sell the dogs but probably wanted to give them away as gifts.

Both men are scheduled for an April 4 court appearance.