Theft of an animal
Deputies arrest 2 women accused of stealing dogs; Still looking for animals
Oct 24, 2014
ORLANDO, Fla. —Orange County Sheriff's Office deputies recently arrested a couple of alleged dog-nappers.
Detectives said Friday, though, that they are still looking for the animals
Two Shar-Peis and a litter of four puppies were stolen from a home on Little Econ Street, just east of Dean Road.
A neighbor reportedly saw one of the suspects put some of the dogs in a car and drive away.
The purebred animals can sell for thousands of dollars.
Deputies arrested 22-year-old Jaclyn Maldonado and 21-year-old Samantha Rivera.
Investigators said the dog's owner knows the suspects.
With his help and surveillance video deputies were able to track the women down.
Exposed
NAME: Jaclyn Maldonado, 22, and Samantha Riviera, 21
WHERE: Florida
CRIME: Orlando women arrested for stealing valuable Shar Pei dogs and puppies.
Two very expensive Shar Pei dogs, Porsha and Versace from Orlando, Florida are still missing after two women were arrested for allegedly stealing the dogs and their four two-week-old puppies reported the Orlando Sentinel.
Jaclyn Maldonado, 22, and Samantha Riviera, 21, were caught on a neighbor's surveillance tape running out of the home on Little Econ Street. First the women chased the two older dogs who may have run out of the home, and then went back into the house and were then seen carrying something and getting into a black Volkswagen Beetle.
The dogs and their puppies were being cared for by the owner's girlfriend, who would come several times a day to check on the dogs and feed, walk and play with them. The dogs' owner, Juan Jose Sapeg, has been in jail on drug charges and immediately identified the women on the surveillance video who stole his dogs, as women he knew who had frequently visited him. He told authorities the women knew he was in custody and took advantage of the situation. Sapeg's home had been broken into from a back door window.
The dogs have not been located, and Orange County Sheriff's Office is hoping the community can help to find them. Authorities fear "pet flipping" where dogs and cats are stolen and then quickly sold on the Internet.
The dogs are reported to be worth thousands of dollars.
Anyone with information about these dogs is asked to contact the Orange County Sheriff's Office (www.ocso.com)
