Man pleads guilty in Naperville puppy theft

A teenager admitted Tuesday to pilfering a $1,500 Pomeranian puppy from a Naperville pet store in a plot also involving two employees.

Emanuel Lopez is one of three people charged with the March 21 theft of the 2-month-old pooch from Petland at 720 N. Route 59 on the city's west side.

Lopez, 19, 13539 Rickefeller, Plainfield, pleaded guilty to felony retail theft charges. DuPage Circuit Judge John Kinsella will sentence him July 2. Lopez, who did not have a prior criminal history, faces up to five years in prison.

An unidentified 45-year-old Plainfield woman connected to the trio returned the pooch unharmed to the store three days later. The store owner, Mike Isaac, said Tuesday the playful puppy was quickly adopted.

"He went home with a fabulous couple in Naperville," Isaac said. "Our main objective was to get the puppy back and find him a great home, and I think we accomplished that."

Two employees, Anais M. Marquez, 19, 24403 Kennedy Court, and Karlie A. Pellock, 19, 13345 Mary Lee Court, both of Plainfield, also were charged with misdemeanor retail theft. Pellock pleaded guilty May 16. She was ordered to perform community service, pay fines and placed on court supervision. Marquez's case was pending.

Police said Marquez and Pellock conspired with Lopez, an acquaintance, to steal the puppy and then sell it to them for $60 so they could have him. Both employees were in the store working when the puppy was taken.