Puppy thief caught: Stolen $2,900 Pomeranian recovered after surveillance video leads police across Florida
On December 6, 2025, Florida’s Stuart Police Department responded to a report from a local pet store, Wags About You, after a Pomeranian puppy valued at nearly $2,900, was stolen from the shop. A woman who was browsing in the store, picked the 11-week-old female puppy up and out of her pen, stashed the pup under her shirt, and made her way out of the store undetected.
After the theft was discovered, an employee from the shop said it all happened very quickly.
She said they immediately called the Stuart Police Department and reported the dog stolen. “We’ve been here for four years, and we never imagined that this would happen to us,” she said. ~ WPBF News
It helped the investigation that the suspect committing the theft was captured  on video.
Stuart Police Detectives launched an investigation into the canine caper and followed the trail all the way to Polk County, Florida. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office successfully identified, located and arrested the suspect, along with recovering the very adorable stolen Pomeranian.
The puppy was safely returned, where it can now continue its journey to finding a loving furever home. Meanwhile, 26-year-old Bobbi Joe Zitko, was taken into custody and charged with Grand Theft, before being transported to the Polk County Jail.
“We would like to thank the Polk County Sheriff’s Office for their outstanding assistance in helping us bring this paw-sitively unacceptable crime to a successful resolution.” ~ Stuart Police Department
The theft of the Palmerian puppy was big news across Florida’s Treasure Coast when it happened – and was caught on the pet store’s surveillance system. See the video below.
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(Source and images: Stuart Police Department)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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