In the very early morning hours of Tuesday, Feb. 2, as much of the state was recovering from a major snowstorm, a Mercedes containing a family dog – Cindy – was stolen from the northbound Fairfield Service Plaza on I-95 in Fairfield.
The theft of Cindy, a Maltese, occurred when two men pulled up in a Porsche beside Cindy's owner while she was pumping gas, and allegedly one of the men jumped into her Mercedes and drove away,
The stolen car was recovered a short time later, but Cindy was missing, state police said.
The owners were distraught so detectives from the State Police Western District Major Crime Squad assumed the investigation.
Detectives were in dogged pursuit of the suspects in order to reunite Cindy with her family, the department said.
Detectives executed – or in this case, un- “leashed” - numerous search and seizure warrants and conducted interviews.
On Wednesday, Sept. 22, detectives conducted surveillance operations in Waterbury and located and recovered Cindy without incident.
Cindy was transported to a local animal hospital for evaluation. She remains in the custody of the state police and the Waterbury Animal Control until she can be reunited with her family, the department said.
Detectives are continuing their investigation and arrests are imminent, proving that the suspects were “barking up the wrong tree” when they took Cindy, troopers said.
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