Woman charged in connection with local puppy thefts
A Missouri woman has been charged in connection with the theft of puppies from suburban pet stores late last year.
Shelly Rene Hess, of Chesterfield, Mo., surrendered to police and was charged with theft of more than $500, according to the St. Charles, Mo., Circuit Court online records.
Two puppies were stolen from Petland stores in Naperville and Bolingbrook on Nov. 7, and they were returned safely to another Petland store in the St. Louis area a few days after they were stolen, along with another Maltese puppy that had been taken from a store in Missouri.
Hess has been charged with the puppy stolen in Missouri, a Havanese valued at $1,700, but Naperville police said they expect charges to be filed against her in the suburban cases as well.
Hess will next appear in court in Missouri on Feb. 26.