Stolen Elmwood Park pet shop puppy found, arrests made

Blackie, the puppy stolen from an Elmwood Park pet shop, was recovered this morning in Warren County by police who arrested the man shown in the store’s surveillance video and a woman who was with him.

Jerry DeMarco

12/07/2012 6:11 p.m.

Thomas Meshach, 24, was charged with theft and 21-year-old Carmen Fucci with conspiracy after Elmwood Park police tipped off their counterparts in Phillipsburg, where the couple lives.

Only 6½ pounds to begin with, the malnourished Blackie had lost a pound and a half in less than four days, pet shop owner Joseph Aversa said

ANOTHER CVP SCOOP: Thomas Meshach already was facing theft charges from a year ago when he walked into The Aquarium at Route 4 — and onto Facebook pages around the country. Now he’s in custody again, charged with pup-napping. READ MORE….

Mesach and Fucci both were graduated from Phillipsburg High School — he in 2007 and she two years later, records show.

Both were taken into custody just before 8:30 this morning in Phillipsburg, The Express Times reported on Lehigh Valley Live.

Elmwood Park police went to Phillipsburg this morning and reunited Blackie with Aversa, the owner of The Aquarium at Route 4, sometime this afternoon.

PHOTO COURTESY: LehighValleyLive.com

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