Dognappers Swipe Pup At Jersey City Rail Station, NJ Transit Says

SECAUCUS, NJ — A woman was just minding her business and holding her dog Bella on a leash at a Jersey City light rail station on Monday, according to NJ Transit officials, when a pair of petnappers swiped the pup and hopped onto the train to make a slow getaway. Luckily, the dog was found safe.

According to NJ Transit Senior Public Information Officer Lisa Torbic, at approximately 4 p.m. Monday, a Secaucus woman, 46, said that a man and a teenage girl stole her dog while she was on the Richard Street station platform waiting for the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail train.

The station is on the line that runs from Bayonne north toward Liberty State Park, then along the Jersey City waterfront to Hoboken.

According to Torbic, "Quick thinking New Jersey Transit Police officers radioed ahead to have the light rail vehicle stopped at Liberty State Park Station and have its doors remain closed, keeping the suspects on board until officers arrived. Soon after the arrest, the police were able to reunite Bella with her owner."

Torbic said that Noel Tineo, 18, of Jersey City and a 17-year-old female from Hoboken were quickly arrested by New Jersey Transit Police at the Liberty State Park Station.

Both Tineo and the female juvenile were charged with robbery, Torbic said.

For another recent Jersey dog story with a happy reunion, see: Jersey City Mom Finally Gets Son's Dog Back, After Pleading.

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