Man Arrested in Connection with Puppy Theft

Plano police have arrested and charged one man in connection with the theft of several puppies.

Investigators say 27-year-old Darrell Wayne Ramirez, of McKinney, broke into the Petland store on the 300-block of Coit Road on Oct. 8 and absconded with seven puppies of various breeds worth more than $4,000. NBC 5 initially reported the seven breeds to be dachshund, beagle, shih-tzu, shih-poo, Boston beagle, English bulldog and a soft-coated wheaten terrier.

Ramirez was arrested without incident near his residence Monday, but the puppies were nowhere to be found. In an attempt to recover the missing dogs, investigators are asking anyone who bought a dog from an individual after Oct. 8 to get the dog scanned for a microchip by their vet or at the local animal shelter.

Ramirez has been charged with felony burglary of a building and is being held on $25,000 bond.

Police are still searching for an accomplice in the theft and continue to hope surveillance video released after the burglary will lead them to the second perpetrator.

The video shows the two men, whose heads and faces were covered, come into the store through the broken front door, go behind the pet display cases, pull the puppies out and put them in a rolling suitcase and laundry basket. They can then be seen leaving the store through the busted door.

As this is an ongoing investigation, anyone with information about the offense or the location of the missing puppies is asked to call the Plano Police Department Tip Line at 972-941-2148.