A 39-year-old Cincinnati man is wanted after a March 19, 2025 break-in in Avondale that left a Milton Court home ransacked and a family's puppy missing, according to court records. The incident has been described in filings as both a burglary and a robbery.
Prosecutors say Jonathan Martin climbed into the Milton Court home through a window on March 19, 2025, damaged the entire first floor and stole a puppy valued at about $1,600, according to WKRC Local 12. Court documents further allege Martin later returned, grabbed a woman's keys from her hand and took off in her vehicle. Police have not said whether the puppy or the car have been recovered.
How Ohio law treats pet theft
Under Ohio law, theft of property or services valued at $1,000 or more is a felony of the fifth degree, so the alleged $1,600 value of the puppy could elevate a theft charge into felony territory. That threshold and the statute's penalties are laid out in the state's theft code, per the Ohio Revised Code, and prosecutors can pursue additional counts, including robbery or unauthorized use of a vehicle, depending on the facts.
Similar cases show mixed outcomes
Outcomes in pet theft cases can vary sharply. In a separate Ohio case, authorities later dropped charges against two people who had been accused of taking a dog during an alleged armed robbery, illustrating how evidence and prosecutorial strategy can shape where these cases land. That case was reported by FOX19.
What authorities say
Cincinnati police have identified Martin as wanted on burglary and robbery counts, and court documents suggest he appears to know the victim, according to WKRC Local 12. Investigators are asking anyone with information to contact the Cincinnati Police Department so officers can determine whether the puppy or the vehicle have been recovered and move the case forward.
