Terriers Stolen at Gunpoint Are Returned to Their Owners

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The New York Sun

LOS ANGELES — Four purebred Yorkshire terriers stolen at gunpoint during a home invasion robbery more than a week ago were returned to their owners after a man turned himself in to police.

Three puppies, valued at $2,500 each, and a full-grown family pet named Tanja were reunited with their owners at the Wilshire Division police station Saturday night.

One puppy remained missing, police said.

Family members hugged and kissed the panting pups and left the police station with the dogs in their arms.

The animals were recovered after Ryan Betton, 19, of Los Angeles, surrendered to police Friday night, Detective Luis Corona said.

He was booked for investigation of residential robbery, police said.

A videotape of the robbery that aired on local television brought in many tips, including telephone calls that sent police to the home of Mr. Betton’s father, Mr. Corona said.

“When the son came home, he confronted the son and that led to the son being brought in to the station to turn himself in,” Mr. Corona said.

A second man was being sought.

The puppies had been advertised for sale in a newspaper and two men posing as buyers made an appointment to see them on February 23. When a family member opened the door, one of the men pulled a gun. The men ordered the family of four to lie on the living room floor.

A home surveillance camera caught the scene as one man held a gun and the other chased after the puppies with a plastic garbage bag as they scampered around the room and underneath a coffee table. He snatched one of the dogs from a woman’s hands.

No one was injured.


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