Warrant Issued for Woman Accused of Stealing Puppies

Bolingbrook Police have obtained a warrant for the arrest of a Missouri woman in connection with the Nov. 8 theft of a Maltese puppy from the Boughton Road Petland store.

On Wednesday, Lt. Mike Rompa said a felony retail theft warrant has been issued for Shelly R. Hess, 50, of the 17000 block of White Robin Court in Chesterfield, Missouri.

Hess is accused of stealing a white Maltese puppy valued at $1,899 from the store at 744 E. Boughton Rd. on Nov. 8, 2013. The puppy was microchipped, according to police.

In addition to the Bolingbrook case, Hess is also a suspect in the theft of another Havenese puppy from a Naperville Petland store, 720 S. Route 59, on the same day as the alleged Bolingbrook theft.

The stolen puppies from the Naperville and Bolingbrook cases were found near St. Louis on Nov. 11, according to the Daily Herald.

In a press release, Rompa said Hess allegedly walked into the Bolingbrook pet store around 10:31 a.m. on Nov. 8 and approached an employee to ask about a rabbit cage. Hess then allegedly asked to see the Maltese puppy. She took the puppy to a "petter" area before asking an employee to take a picture of her with the dog, police said.

Hess reportedly told the employee she had left her phone outside. After going outside to retrieve her purse, Hess returned to the petter area, and the employee took the photo and left the area. Hess then allegedly placed the puppy in her purse and left the store without paying, according to police.

Last week, Hess surrendered to police in Lake Saint Louis, Missouri, in connection with another Petland puppy theft case. In that case, she's accused of stealing a Havanese puppy from a Missouri Petland store on Nov. 7, 2013.

Rompa said the felony retail theft charge carries a $50,000 bond.