Puppy stolen from car after armed robberies reunited with owners
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Maybel, the puppy who went missing after an armed robbery and a series of car break-ins in Wisconsin, has been reunited with her owners.
Maybel is safe at home tonight. The puppy was stolen almost two weeks ago was found in Chicago nearly 200 miles from her home.
CBS 2's Shardaa Gray spoke to Maybel's owners, who still can't believe what happened.
The puppy's owner, Kraig Knudson, said between the robbery and Maybel being gone for nearly two weeks, he calls it an absolute miracle that she's now home safe.
Knudson reported her return in a Facebook post Saturday: "We want to thank everyone for there help love, support, prayers and shares. We could not have found Maybel without all of you. We are forever grateful We found our needle in the haystack!"
Knudson said the 16-month-old dog was a surprise birthday gift to his wife, and ever since she became a member of their family, the Wisconsin realtor said Maybel has hardly left his side.
"I wish she could talk and tell her story," he said, acknowledging the 16-month-old puppy has been through a lot.
"Ten days of travel and a high speed chase. I wish she could tell us exactly where she's been and what she did," Knudson said.
Maybel was taken during a series of car break-ins. Knudson, who lives in Wisconsin, said he took his dog with him to Home Depot in Wisconsin Dells for a quick errand March 23.
"I ran inside. I had to grab one small thing and come back out. And when I came out my truck window's were smashed and she was gone."
The suspects are wanted in connection with armed robberies at the Outlets of the Dells, the same afternoon Maybel was stolen.
Knudson put an add on Facebook in the Chicago area, asking anyone if they had seen Maybel.
"A gentleman reached out to us and sent a picture and said, we think we found your dog."
The man told Knudson his sister found the dog near Cicero and 127th. He says Lake Delton detectives coordinated a meetup with the Chicago Police Department, Saturday, to reunite Maybel and her owners.
"We had a happy happy reunion, to say the least," Knudson said. "Your life can change in a second. It really has brought a lot of clarity with us, our friends and so many other people who have reached out to help us. It's unbelievable."
"She goes with me on appointments and people love her," Knudson said.
So it wasn't out of the ordinary when the dog came along with Kraig for a quick trip to the Lake Delton Home Depot last Wednesday. But when Knudson left the store he found the window of his car smashed out and Maybel gone.
Lake Delton Police said two people are behind the crime. They issued a felony warrant for the arrest of Adam A. Lujano, 39, and Javanni Murjan Esteves, 41.
They are also wanted in connection with armed robberies at the Outlets of the Dells on that same afternoon. Lujano has a criminal history and is on parole from an attempted carjacking in 2018. In 2015, he served time for aggravated battery of an officer.
Police said the armed suspects also broke into a work van in the parking lot. The van owner confronted the suspects, who pointed a handgun while removing tools and other items from the van.
When police arrived on the scene, the suspects fled in a blue Ford F-250 truck with a black bag over the driver's side window on Highway 12. Police said the license plate on the truck, PJ8907, was recently stolen. The truck also has a large placard in the back that says "Fully Insured" on the back.
In at least one of the earlier incidents, police said the suspects' vehicle matched the description of an armed robbery at the Outlets of the Dells.
The Lake Delton Police Department is investigating and requesting assistance from the public in locating Lujano and Esteves. Police said if the suspects are spotted, do not approach them.
"Lujano has outstanding felony warrants through the Illinois Department of Corrections. Lake Delton Police Department received information suggesting the suspect vehicle in our case crossed into Illinois hours after the crimes were committed here," Lake Delton Police said in a Facebook post.
Lujano and Esteves are believed to be armed and extremely dangerous. If you see them, contact local police immediately.
Knudson said he's still trying to figure out how his dog ended up in Chicago. His next step is to get Maybel microchipped this Friday.
