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Marley and Mia: Stolen Pup Returned to Owner

Updated 1:15 PM PDT, Wed, Jan 7, 2009

Related Topics: Jim Amormino

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Stanton, Calif. – A yellow Labrador retriever that was allegedly stolen by a man last month was reunited with its owner on Tuesday night.

Stolen Puppy Reunited With Owner

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A woman who received a stolen puppy as a Christmas gift returns the dog to its owner.

The 23-year-old man who allegedly stole the dog -- worth $1,300 -- from a Stanton pet shop and gave the puppy to his girlfriend as a Christmas gift was arrested, according to authorities.

The man, 23-year-old Ryan Shaun Rickman, of Orange, allegedly took the 3-month-old pup from Pet City, 7041 Katella Ave., about 5 p.m. on Dec. 22, said Jim Amormino of the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

Rickman was arrested in Stanton and booked on suspicion of burglary and grand theft, Amormino said. A second suspect remains at large, he said.

The pup "was stolen for a Christmas present," Amormino said.

"It's unfortuante how everything worked out," said Mia Carew, the suspect's girlfriend. "But Ryan, he's dealing with the consequences. He feels really bad and wanted to try to make it right."

Rickman and his accomplice entered the store and spent several minutes talking to clerks before he allegedly lifted the canine from a cage and ran out the door with the dog while his accomplice distracted a cashier, Amormino said.

The stolen puppy -- which is fitted with an identifying microchip -- is similar to the canine in the hit movie "Marley and Me," Amormino said.

The sheriff's department released store surveillance footage Monday that Amormino said captured "extremely vivid" depictions of the suspects, and police later got a tip from someone who saw news coverage of the case, Amormino said.   

Comments (4)

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  • Crystal Friday, Jan 16 at 6:30 PM FLAG COMMENT His girlfriend is full of it. The only reason why he feels bad and wanted to try to make it right is because he got caught. If he hadn't had been stupid enough to get caught on surveillance footage, she would still have her stolen Christmas present.
  • Eric Wednesday, Jan 7 at 7:48 PM FLAG COMMENT I agree with Zaranne. Adopt pets, don't buy them. They are loyal, good-looking and you'd be doing a service to strays around the world. People who are intent upon buying purebreds are selfish, pretentious and aren't doing a thing to solve the stray pet issue. The only argument I have for paying money for an adopted pet, is that often a nominal fee is a formality to dissuade scandalous people from "adopting" pets only to tu ... MORE >
  • Zaranne Wednesday, Jan 7 at 3:44 PM FLAG COMMENT No one should pay a DIME for a puppy from a Pet Store. They get their dogs from puppy mills, it's just terrible. You should always try to adopt a pet from a shelter, but if you are set on a particular breed, contact the local breed association in your area. They can get you set up with a adoptable pet of a specific breed, in state or out of state. Only those that show animals (dogs, cats, rabbits, horses, etc.) pay any lar ... MORE >
  • Ironfeather Wednesday, Jan 7 at 12:32 PM FLAG COMMENT So the $1300 pup is back at the pet store? Who pays that much for a dog? Especially with so many being given up because their owners can't afford their care.

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