Woman charged following alleged extortion attempt over theft of designer dogs
A woman has been charged following an alleged extortion attempt over the theft of two designer dogs.
Police will allege the 49-year-old was found in possession of two dogs which were allegedly stolen from a training facility in Sydney's south-west a week ago.
Pet detective Anne-Marie Curry took on the case to locate Archie the cavalier and Bessie the groodle, with the dogs found shortly after the woman's arrest at Sydney's Catherine Field.
Archie the cavalier and A groodle named Bessie. A Current Affair
A Current Affair reporter Dimity Clancey and Joseph from Joseph's Dog Training Solutions. A Current Affair
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"Unbelievable, hidden in plain sight, God knows what they've been through," Curry told A Current Affair.
The dogs were allegedly snatched from their pens at Joseph's Dog Training Solutions, just a two-minute drive from where they were found.
Joseph Abousleiman runs the four-week behavioural boot camp for dangerous dogs.
Pet detective Anne-Marie Curry. A Current Affair
Pet detective Anne-Marie Curry took on the case to locate Archie the cavalier. A Current Affair
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He said the dogs were left alone in their cages for nine hours on his day off.
"I don't think anyone is really stupid enough with all the signs and stuff to really come and steal anything," Abousleiman said.
Curry said a woman was allegedly demanding $1350 in return for the stolen dogs.
Archie the cavalier. A Current Affair
Bessie the groodle running up the road after being found. A Current Affair
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Police foiled the alleged plan when they turned up to the meeting instead of the dog's owners.
A woman was later charged with having goods in personal custody suspected of being stolen and will face court on April 23.
The two dogs were microchipped before they were returned to their owners.
Bessie the groodle. A Current Affair
Archie the cavalier and Bessie the groodle were reunited with their owners. A Current Affair
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"(They're) cruel people; heartless. I don't understand how people can do this to innocent animals," Deb Vada, Archie's owner, said.
The police investigation continues.
"There's still lots of lingering questions," Curry said.
"Be really, really, really careful who you trust your pets with."
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