By Bee Staff
Roseville police officers are asking the public's help in finding the teen who stole a puppy from an 8-year-old girl in a park.
A Police Department news release gave this sequence of events:
The 8-year-old girl was playing with her puppy (see photos below) about 6:40 p.m. Friday in Maidu Regional Park when a teenaged boy approached.
The girl was playing with the 10-week-old male German shepherd/pit bull mix near the soccer area on the west side of the park while her father played soccer.
The teen asked if he could pet the puppy but then unclipped the animal from its leash, grabbed it and got into a waiting van. The van sped away toward Rock Ridge Drive.
The suspect is described as a dark-complexioned male of undetermined race, 14-15 years old, 5 feet 8 inches tall with a "chunky" build. He had dark brown hair and was wearing an orange and white shirt and shorts. He had been seen in the park with a group of approximately five other male teenagers.
He got into a silver Dodge Caravan (late 1990s-early 2000s model) with a sliding side door.
"Stealing the dog was not only very upsetting to the girl and her family, but is grand theft, a felony," a police spokeswoman said in the release.
Anyone with any information is asked to call Roseville Crime Stoppers at (916)783-STOP.
Callers may remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward for information leading to arrest.
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