Mystic – Stonington Police have arrested a Pawcatuck man after allegedly stealing a Yorkshire terrier from a car parked in Olde Mistick Village on Wednesday night.
Police returned the uninjured dog named Zoey to its owner in Ashaway, RI.
They charged Liam A. Audette, 24, of 210 Liberty St., with pet theft, third-degree theft, third-degree burglary, disturbing a police officer, and second-degree failure to appear in court. He should be charged on Thursday.
Captain Todd Olson said police received a report around 6:30 p.m. about a man who tried to break into cars in the shopping village parking lot. Olson said a witness told police she saw a drunk man carrying a small dog as he walked through the parking lot of the Mystic Aquarium. When Officer Halim Hage arrived, he was able to track down the man who dropped the dog and fled. Hage pursued the man on foot and arrested him near West Marine. The dog was picked up.
Olson said the dog’s owner had dinner at the Go Fish restaurant in the village and left the dog in the car with the windows partially down to keep the dog cool. He said Audette reached through the window and was able to steal the dog and sunglasses from a glove box. The dog is valued at $ 2,100.
