Naperville woman charged with puppy theft

A Naperville woman was jailed Tuesday after stealing a 9-week-old puppy from a pet store, prosecutors said.

Bail was set at $20,000 for Susan Sullivan, 50, of the 0-100 block of Testa Drive. She is charged with retail theft.

Prosecutors said Sullivan entered the Happiness is Pets store at 1592 E. Ogden Ave. in Naperville about 5:50 p.m. Monday and walked out with a poodle-pug mix, also known as a “puggle,” under her coat.

Store employees stopped Sullivan and called authorities, according to the state’s attorney’s office.

“If proven guilty, Ms. Sullivan will be held responsible for her alleged attempt to help herself to whatever she wanted and walk out the door,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement.

Berlin said retail theft cost U.S. retailers more than $7 billion in 2010.

“Many businesses victimized by retail theft are mom-and-pop stores trying to keep afloat in these uncertain economic times,” he said.

Felony retail theft is a charge typically punishable by up to three years in prison.

Sullivan remained in the county jail Tuesday afternoon and will have to post $2,000 to bond out. She is scheduled to appear March 5 in front of Judge Robert Kleeman.