Alleged 'puppynapper' held in South Pasadena pet store snatching

South Pasadena police arrested one of the men captured on a surveillance video allegedly stealing a $1,000 puppy from a pet shop when he returned the "puggle" to the store, officials said. 

Jesus Lopez Medina, 53, of Los Angeles, was arrested over the weekend when he returned the 6-month-old female puppy stolen from Pet’s Delight in the 700 block of Fair Oaks Avenue a week and a half ago. The dog is a puggle, a pug-beagle crossbreed, police said.

Medina was booked on suspicion of grand theft and commercial burglary. He was being held in lieu of $20,000 bail.

In the video, a man about 35 to 40 years old and wearing an Orlando Magic basketball jersey scoops up the puppy from a pen while eyeing a store clerk. He puts it back down, then picks it up a second time and walks away with it in his arms. A second man, of similar age, acted as a lookout, according to police. 

Police said the suspected dog thieves drove off in a green 2002 Mercury Villager.

The dog had been microchipped and was registered as stolen, according to authorities. 

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-- Richard Winton
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