Puppy Stolen From Middletown Pet Shop, Police And Store Say

MIDDLETOWN, NJ - A 10-week-old cockapoo puppy was stolen from a Middletown pet store Thursday, owners said in a social media post.

Middletown Police confirmed the theft on Friday morning, and released more details: At 1:15 p.m. Thursday, Middletown Police were called to The Pet Shop, located at 1284 Rt. 35, for a report of a puppy being stolen from the store.

The owner told police that a young man came into the store and asked if the store had any cockapoo or goldendoodle puppies for sale. The suspect then began to play with a cockapoo puppy, a 10-week-old female with brown fur, that was available for purchase.

Within moments, the subject picked up the puppy and ran from the store. You can watch this happen on the surveillance video posted by the store: https://fb.watch/d7axBSnOQU/

The suspect ran to an adjacent parking lot and got into a small black SUV, possibly a Nissan Rouge, with the partial New Jersey license plate of “X58.”

The dog’s Microchip number is 990000004409325, The Pet Shoppe said. There’s currently a $1000 reward for the return of the cockapoo.

The suspect is described as a young, African-American man wearing a blue surgical mask, ripped black jeans, orange Crocs and a black sweatshirt. The sweatshirt had the words “Key Street” on the sleeves in white lettering.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Middletown Police Detective Bureau at (732) 615-2120. Callers who wish to remain anonymous can call the MTPD Tipline at (732) 615-3277.

The Middletown Twp. Police thanks the public for their continued assistance in this investigation.

Per a News12 report, the puppy is two pounds and only nine weeks old, and could die without the proper nutrition.

Those with information are urged to call the Middletown Police Department at (732) 615-2100.