A Houston pet store heist involving a cadre of thieves, including a 10-year-old girl, ended with a twist when all purloined puppies were returned, according to store owner Adam Abidlatif and local news reports. Click2Houston detailed the orchestrated theft at The Pet Place on Beamer Road, where two women, a man, and the child snatched three purebred puppies and a turtle aside from pilfering merchandise.
Caught on the store's surveillance, the group initially cased The Pet Place before embarking on their scheme in the afternoon. Dividing and conquering, one suspect kept workers busy with inquiries about guinea pigs, while another accessed the back, acting as a lookout. Meanwhile, led by compulsion, the child's hesitant figure betrayed her reluctance as she was coaxed by the adults to participate in the theft. "She was hesitant about going. You can see she’s super scared," Abidlatif told Click2Houston. "She shouldn’t have been in that type of predicament. That’s very upsetting to see."
In a remarkable about-face following a news segment, a woman linked to the theft trotted back into The Pet Place, carrying the Shih Tzu in a pet carrier. Shortly after, an unaffiliated man returned the two other puppies—dapple dachshunds as reported by KHOU 11. However, the aquatic turtle and other stolen goods remain missing. Despite the return of the canines, no charges have been pressed, and the investigation continues under the Harris County Precinct 2 Constable's Office.
Adam Abidlatif feared for the pups, having said that owing to their tender age, the puppies "haven’t had all their shots. Now they’re out somewhere possibly exposed to who-knows-what. That’s what keeps me up at night," he remarked to Ckick2Houston. Following the theft, The Pet Place has ramped up security measures, adding more cameras, revamping staff preparedness against theft, and restricting access to more vulnerable sections of the store. The community and patrons of The Pet Place can report any related information to the Houston Police Department’s Southeast Division or through Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
