Puppy-napping caught on tape

Pick of the litter taken under the gaze of a Webcam in Orlando store

FREE VIDEO

Puppy-napping caught on tape
June 30: It’s a sad case of cat burglars stealing puppies, and it was all caught on tape. NBC News Mark Potter reports.

Today show

Slideshow

Animal Tracks
Two Thanksgiving turkeys, a see-through sea creature, a camouflaged catfish, a hungry golden monkey, a kissing pooch – plus more animals great and small.

more photos

Pet health videos

Hidden dangers for overweight pets
Nov. 30: Obesity is the No. 1 health problem facing America’s pets. NBC’s Jill Rappaport and veterinarian Dr. Claude Grosjean have tips to help add years to your pet’s life by dropping those extra pounds.

Abandoned pups, kittens feel recession

Miracle pup survives 3 months in wilderness

Pet turkey needs cataract surgery

Whales celebrate Christmas in Japan

By Mark Potter

Correspondent

NBC News

updated 11:31 a.m. ET June 30, 2005

Mark Potter
Correspondent
• E-mail

MIAMI — Everybody was devastated Thursday at the Just Puppies store in Orlando.

Twelve of the store's cutest puppies are missing, and staffers know exactly what happened.

Story continues below ↓

advertisement | your ad here

On the store computer they saw it all, during a replay of their live Webcam.

"They knew what they wanted,” said Tyler Thomson, the owner of Just Puppies, as he watched the Webcam replay of the incident.

The night burglars can be seen as plain as day, despite disguises to cover their faces, going from cage to cage, taking their pick of the litter.

Watching the video, you can see exactly what happened. They came in through the back door, two men who appeared to be white or Hispanic. Meanwhile, another gentleman went next door and got some dog food.

Smallest breeds
Thomson is devastated.

“I just feel sorry for those dogs, because they don't deserve those dogs. They come in and steal, and how are they going to take care of them?” said Thomson.

The burglars chose most of the smallest breeds.

Their total sale value is nearly $7,000, but on the street without papers, they are worth much less.

The owner believes the same thieves stole four more puppies from his other store, and has offered a $2,000 reward.

“It's a horrible thing,” said Thomson, clearly choked up by the incident. “It's just sad, it's very sad.”

His next step is to buy a big guard dog, to keep an eye on the remaining pups.

Mark Potter is an NBC News correspondent based in Miami.