Gwinnett County law enforcement is calling on community members to aid in tracking down two suspects implicated in the theft of a family pet named Lucy. This incident took place within the Sugarloaf Summit Apartments, located at 1887 Duluth Highway, where the dog—a white, black, and gray five-year-old Shihpoo—went missing, according to the Gwinnett Daily Post.
Details about the situation surfaced when the actual owner reported to the police on September 9, after noticing that Lucy had inadvertently left the safety of their ground-floor patio door. Following the dog's disappearance, someone came across Lucy by the pool area and promptly posted to the Ring app to alert the community—the usual digital town square for such matters. Subsequent to the post, two women arrived at the pool claiming the dog, whom they called "Coco," as their own, and whisked her away in a blue SUV, likely a Cadillac with no license plates, as detailed by FOX 5 Atlanta.
The suspects, identified as younger Black females—one with braces—impersonated the rightful owners and seized the opportunity to make off with Lucy. The police have encouraged anyone with insights into the whereabouts of the dog or information on the suspects to contact the Gwinnett County Police detectives at 770-513-5300, or to share tips anonymously via Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477 or online at www.stopcrimeATL.com, where cash rewards are offered for information that leads to an arrest and indictment.
In light of this incident, pet finders and owners are being reminded of the importance of verifying ownership before handing over a found animal. Recommended steps include asking for photo ID, ownership documents, such as vet records or a bill of sale, and checking for personal pet photos. It's imperative to arrange meetups in safe, public locations—perhaps the parking lot of a police station or at a vet's office, and to be wary of any monetary requests during the pet's retrieval, indicative of a potential scam.
