Man Stole $4,100 Dog As Girlfriend's Valentine's Gift: WI Police

RACINE, WI — Authorities in Racine County say they arrested a 26-year-old Oak Creek man, nearly six months after he stole a $4,100 dog from Petland in an attempt to please his girlfriend a day before Valentine's Day. Authorities have charged Kyle J. Czarnecki with two counts of retail theft and one count of bail jumping as a result of the February incident.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Racine County, Czarnecki entered the Petland store in Racine at about 7 p.m. on Feb. 13 to look for a dog as a gift for his girlfriend. Investigators said a Petland staff member assisted Czarnecki in picking out a 16-week-old Yorkshire terrier.

Investigators say Czarneki sat down with the dog near the booth closest to the store's exit door. When the store employee turned to help another customer, he and the dog were gone.

The value of the puppy was $4,100, police said.

Investigators say they reviewed high-quality security video footage from Petland and released surveillance footage and photos of Czarnecki to local news outlets in an attempt to identify and locate him.

According to the criminal complaint, Czarnecki was involved in a stolen car case in Franklin about a week after the Petland incident. A Franklin police officer who was investigating the stolen car case was able to identify Czarnecki in the surveillance footage that had been circulated to the public.

A warrant for Czarnecki was issued on July 23, according to court records. Records indicate he was taken into custody on Aug. 6, and is now in the Racine County Jail on a $1,500 cash bond. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 21.

Patch has contacted the Racine County District Attorney's Office to learn whether the dog was recovered.