Dognap Suspects Nabbed; 3 Of 4 Dogs Found

(AP)  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.

[vpiscar]

I think it is ridiculous for breeders to sell pets @ $2,500...most of these breeders only breed for the money and not for the love of the creatures...Shame on these people who uses dogs as livestock instead of pets...they don't even care about to whom they sell the dogs. Usually, breeders require a potential buyer to submit an application form before the buyers even set foot in their facilities.

If you are considering adopting or buying pets, Please make sure that you buy from reputable breeders...I'm not sure about these people but they are selling the pups from their home...i hope the authorities have had the brain to go ahead and inspect this home for any sign of puppy milling.

However, in fairness to these sellers...if they are that of reputable breeders, I am glad that they were united with their source of income...

Peace.

[vabeachbabe]

I'M HAPPY THAT THE FAMILY HAS BEEN REUNITED WITH THE PUPPIES AND PRAY THAT THE 4TH ONE IS FOUND SAFE AND SOUND!! AS FOR THE 2 WHO STOLE THEM, THEY NEED TO DO TIME FOR THE USE OF WEAPONS AS WELL AS COMMUNITY SERVICE AT A LOCAL PET SHELTER!

[amandasw1]

First off, it's common for responsible breeders to allow potential puppy buyers into the home.
If a breeder/owner of puppies ask to meet at a gas station, that means they have something to hide.
( Puppy Mills, backyard breeders, ect.. )

Second, $2,500 for a puppy is high. They didn't mention if they were show quality, so I assume they were just bred for pets as the Dam was refered to as a family pet. Not a show dog.

I'm glad that most of the puppies were found alive. Believe me, it could have ended in a sad way.

[houser123]

OK, here is mo opinion of the two robbers.

"DUMB and DUMBER"

Geez... Just how stupid can you get ?