Stolen pug puppy recovered, suspects busted

An anonymous tip led Lone Tree police to three suspects in connection with the theft of a 9-week-old puppy from a pet store.

The female pug puppy is back at Just Pets on Maximus Drive and Yosemite Street just one day after being stolen from the shop. The suspects in custody were identified as Alexandra Kennel, 18, Tyler Ryan Mayden, 18, and Trevor Roarke Power, 19. Their charges range from conspiracy to theft by receiving. Investigators are still searching for Brittany Cooper, 18, the woman who allegedly stole the pup.

The investigation is continuing, but the Lone Tree Police Department says the anonymous tip led to the identification of the suspects.

Lisa Stone, manager of Just Pets, said the woman ran out of the store with the pug puppy as she was assisting another customer — possibly the thief’s accomplice — the afternoon of Oct. 3. Cooper, the dognapping suspect, was described as a brown-haired woman in her early-20s with a thin build. Her height was estimated at 5 feet 7 inches.

The suspect expressed interest in the $1,200 pup earlier in the day, then came back later and spent a half-hour playing with it. Another woman entered the store and asked to look at the kittens in the back of the store. That’s when the suspect ran off with Stone chasing behind.

“By the time I realized what was going on, she was gone,” she said. “It was a gutsy thing to do in such a small place.”

Stone says an animal has never been stolen in Just Pets’ six years in business. Lone Tree police investigators analyzed the surveillance video that captured the thief’s image.

Just Pets, which touts its anti-puppy mill stance on its website, might have to implement a new policy that requires collateral, such as a driver’s license, to play with the dogs, Stone said. Pugs, in particular, are in demand and hard to come by in pet stores. The 9-week-old puppy, which has a microchip implant, had only been at the store for two or three days.

To report information, contact Detective Wagner at 720-509-1177.