Puppy Police 4

PUPPY POLICE

Officer’s notes at the scene of the crime.

Information

At a little after noon on March 28, 2012, two black Labs were seen in close proximity to the homeowner’s garden gloves, which were on the living room floor—not where they were left, or where they belonged.

Witness Statements

Witness #1, wife of witness #2, was working on her computer in her office. She said she noticed the noise level from the dogs roughhousing in the living room get suddenly lower. Suspicious, she got up from her chair to take a peek. She reported that at the moment of getting out of her chair, she distinctly heard two soft “plops” from said room. Upon entering the room, she spotted her dog, Gus, and her Future Leader Dog Scout, next to each other, standing with lowered heads conspicuously over each of her garden gloves.

Witness said she ran back into her room for her camera to record the scene, but both dogs retreated to the vicinity of Witness #2. She called them back and had them “sit” in approximately the same positions in which she found them, and took two pictures.

The witness admitted that she had left her gloves within the dogs’ reach on the seat of a nearby Lazy-boy chair, after working in the Habitat for Humanity ReStore warehouse with her husband that morning. “I know I should have put them where they belonged,” she said, “but I was planning to go out into the woods after lunch to cut some trees down for next year’s wood pile.”

Witness #2, Andy, was working at his desk at the north end of the living room. He did not notice anything as he had his back to the scene of the crime, but he did turn to look when Witness #1 exclaimed, “look at these dogs!” and saw them standing over the gloves.

Pictures taken by Witness #1:

FLD Scout and cc'd Gus, sitting sheepishly by the stolen gloves.

FLD Scout looks at Gus as if she's saying, "We're in trouble, aren't we?" Gus looks back as if he replies, "That's another fine mess you've got me into!"

Puppy Police Theft Report

Town of:  Lupton                  Date: 3/28/12

Witness #1:  patti

Witness #2:  Andy

Suspect Descriptions: 

1)   A female black shaggy Lab, about 8 months old, weight pushing 50 pounds, with bedroom eyes, wearing a red collar with a Leader Dog tag, # P-9412, and a red Ogemaw County dog tag.

2)   A larger black male Lab with a shiny coat, weighing over 60 pounds, wearing a neon-orange collar with a red Ogemaw County dog tag.

CASE SUMMARY

At approximately noon on Wednesday, March 28, 2012, witness #1 heard a change in the volume of play noises coming from her living room. Upon investigation, she found the two suspects standing with their heads hanging down in front of her garden gloves, which were lying on the floor. Witness #1 took two pictures of the suspects, after the fact. Witness #2 did not observe the theft, nor the subsequent illegal playing of said gloves. There was no damage to the gloves and Witness #1 removed them from the scene. Charges were not filed at this time. The officer was gratified to see that the suspects did, in fact, have the proper tags on their collars, and did suggest that the homeowner be more diligent in putting her things away.

PUPPY POLICE 3

Officer’s notes at the scene of the crime. 

Information

At approximately 8:18 am on Monday, January 23, 2012, a male black Lab was caught in illegal possession of a hand-made afghan, with his accomplice, a young female Lab/Golden mix. The afghan is normally stored on the back of the homeowner’s couch, which is off-limits to the pups. 

Witness Statements

Witness #1, wife of witness #2, had been checking emails on her Mac in her first floor writing room when she heard a dubious silence coming from the living room. She said there were some soft thumping and mumbling noises, but not the typical bounding-paw-pads and snorting she normally hears in the morning. She went to check it out and upon entering the room she observed the two pups wrestling with the stolen afghan. Witness then went for her camera, which was in the kitchen; when she returned the pups were lying calmly nose-to-nose, the afghan wrapped around the male suspect, “Gus.” She took several pictures.

The witness said that while it is true that the suspect “Gus” has a history of minor stealing, no charges have ever been brought against him, and, in fact, she feels that he was not the perpetrator. “That little one is a trickster,” she said. The witness thinks that even though “Gus” was caught red-pawed with the afghan wrapped around him, she suspects that it was actually the accomplice, “Scout,” who dragged the item from the couch and instigated play. The witness did admit that “Gus” steals the occasional kitchen towel or shoe, but that “Scout” is more likely to leap on the couch (and make it look like “Gus” did it). “We’re working on that,” she explained, because “Scout” has been known to take pillows from the couch.

Witness #2, Andy, was working at his desk at the north end of the living room. He did not notice anything as he had his back to the scene of the crime. He agreed with witness #1 that “Scout” was most likely the perpetrator.

Witness #3, Gypsy, a brown dog of suspect origin, had nothing to say about the incident and stayed in the clear under witness #2’s desk.

Pictures taken by witness #1: 

Gus takes the "fall" for FLD Scout--caught with the afghan wrapped around him!

FLD Scout gives her "I'm innocent" look. Gypsy can just barely be seen peering out from under Andy's desk.

Puppy Police Theft Report

Town of:  Lupton                  Date:  2/1/12

Witness #1:  patti

Witness #2:  Andy

Witness #3: Gypsy

Suspect Descriptions: 

1)   1½ year-old male, black coarse fur, about 65 pounds, with suspicious “raccoon” eyes and a crooked, thick tail, wearing a red, white, and blue “flag” collar, with a 2011 tag.

2)   A bit over 6 months old female, about 42 pounds, silky black fur, with eyes that melt a stranger’s heart, wearing a red collar with a Leader Dog tag, number p-9412.

CASE SUMMARY

At approximately 8:18 on Monday, January 23, 2012, witness #1 heard quiet noises in her living room. Upon investigation, she found the two suspects engaged in play with her afghan. Witness #1 took pictures of the suspects. Witness #2 did not observe the theft and witness #3 declined comment. There was no damage to the afghan. Charges were not filed at this time. The officer did advise renewing the dog tags; the owners stated that they plan to do so after witness #3 gets her rabies shot this month.

Here are links to the other "PUPPY POLICE" posts.

• PUPPY POLICE (November 4, 2010)

• PUPPY POLICE 2 (January 3, 2011) 

 It's the first of the month--don't forget to give your pups their heartworm medicine (if you give it monthly all year round).

PUPPY POLICE 2

Officer’s notes at the scene of the crime.

Information

Just before dinnertime on Monday, January 3, 2011, at the residence of Larry and Donna, witnesses observed the suspect carrying a small hat.  The witnesses thought that the suspect appeared unconcerned and looked like he was about to say, “Look what I found!”  He had just come around from behind the loveseat.

Witness Statements

Witness #1, Larry, owner of said residence, reported that the hat belonged to one of a pair of stuffed bears that were positioned under an end table at the far end of the loveseat.  Larry stated that he heard no scuffle.  He was seated across the room at the time of the incident, but had a good vantage point to view the suspect as he came out from behind the loveseat.

Witness #2, Donna, Larry’s wife, was sitting on the loveseat at the time of the incident.  She also reported hearing nothing, but stated that the second bear had previously lost its hat and wondered if the suspect had also stolen that hat.  At this point, Larry broke in to say that the other hat had probably been taken by Lola, a young scrapper of a dog that belongs to his daughter, who does not live with them.  Donna concurred.

Witness #3, Andy, friend of Larry and Donna, agreed that the suspect probably did not take the other hat.  Andy was also sitting on the loveseat at the time of the incident, and did not hear anything unusual.

Witness #4, patti, wife of Andy and raiser of the suspect, had been keeping an eye on the suspect.  He was out of her view for only a few moments.  She approached the suspect as soon as she saw him with the hat.  The suspect did not resist and she took the hat away from him and returned it to the bear.  “I did not look him in the eyes,” she stated to me.  Patti also reported that the suspect has been known to bring shoes to her attention in the past, but the suspect had only done this twice in the last two weeks.

Puppy Police Theft Report

City of:  Sterling Heights                  Date:  1/3/11

Victim:  stuffed bear

Witness #1:  Larry

Witness #2:  Donna

Witness #3:  Andy

Witness #4:  patti

Suspect Description:  5 months old, less than 3 feet tall, about 35 pounds, black fur, brown eye color, jumps around on all fours and has a fiercely wagging tail.  Suspect’s breath reeked of teething.

CASE SUMMARY

Around 6:00 pm on Monday, January 3, 2011, witness #1 spotted the suspect carrying a small hat in his mouth as he walked around a loveseat in his living room.  The other three witnesses saw him at about the same time.  No one heard anything unusual.  Witness #4 immediately retrieved the hat and returned it to the bear.  There were no damages done to the hat.  The suspect had nothing to say, but did not deny absconding with the hat.  The bear refused to bring charges.  The other bear's hat was not found.

Counter Surfing Crime

THE SCENE OF THE CRIME

A still-warm Rum Cake, left cooling on the counter, with hunks mysteriously missing.

A SUSPECT?

FLD Gus looks up from his comfy new bed.  "Why are you looking at me? I didn't do it!  How could I?  I was at the concert with you!"

 ANOTHER SUSPECT

Gypsy, woozing on the couch, starting to look guilty.

THE "PERP"

Gypsy, no longer able to hide the effects of the Rum Cake.

GUILTY

 

PUPPY POLICE

Officer’s notes at the scene of the crime.

Information

At approximately 9:45 am on Tuesday, November 2, 2010, one for-deposit-bottle of India Pale Ale beer by the Michigan Brewing Company was lifted from a cardboard six-pack carton that was left on the slate-tile floor in the back hallway off the galley kitchen of the victim’s townhouse.  The victim set the pack by the door to the downstairs to remind him to take it down for storage until all of the six-pack was consumed.  The victim reported that there were only four empty bottles in the carton.  The suspect was caught “red-pawed” by witness #1.  See accompanying photograph.

Witness Statements

Witness #1, wife of the victim, had been writing at her computer in an upstairs office when she heard a clanging noise coming from the downstairs.  She said it sounded like her husband had dropped a glass, but it did not “tinkle” like broken glass.  Witness stated that she then heard light but hurried footsteps, like someone running around on tippy-toes in slippers, followed by dull thuds and grunting noises.  She ran downstairs to see and found the suspect lying on the living room rug with said beer bottle cradled between his front paws.  Witness reported that the suspect was gnawing at the mouth of the bottle when she first spotted him, but that the suspect quickly looked up at her.  The witness then ran back upstairs for her camera; when she returned the suspect had a guilty look on his face and was sitting a foot or so away from the bottle, which was then lying on its side.  The witness took a photograph.

The witness said that the suspect has stolen other items (dish towel, running shoe, and dog dish), sometimes right in clear view, and the suspect brought all items to the rug in the small but cozy living room.  Witness and victim agreed that things were getting out of hand, but did not want to press charges against the suspect.  The witness explained that she has been working with the suspect on a “leave it” command and promised to keep loose items out of reach of the suspect.

Witness #2, Gypsy, a brown dog of suspect origin, had nothing to say about the incident except a guttural growl when the suspect approached her.

Picture taken by witness #1:

FLD Gus, perpetrator, caught "red-pawed" with the evidence.

PUPPY POLICE THEFT REPORT

City of:  Clinton Township                  Date:  11/2/10

Victim:  Andy

Witness #1:  patti

Witness #2:  Gypsy

Suspect Description:  between 3 and 4 months old, less than 3 feet tall, about 24 pounds, black fur, unable to discern eye color (dark), jumps around on all fours and has a fiercely wagging tail.

CASE SUMMARY

Just before 10:00 am on Tuesday, November 2, 2010, witness #1 was upstairs and heard noises and footsteps from the floor below.  She came downstairs to investigate and found the suspect with an empty beer bottle in his paws on the rug in the living room.  Witness #1 took a photograph of the suspect near the bottle and found that the cardboard carton in the back hallway only contained three empty bottles.  Witness #2 was present in the living room during the incident, but would not offer up any information. The victim was not present at the time of the incident.  He reported that there were, in fact, four empty bottles in the carton when he left an hour or so earlier.  The townhouse is mostly puppy-proofed, although in the kitchen there were dishtowels hanging from the oven and refrigerator door handles within reach of a puppy.  No charges filed at this time.