2 Stolen Puppies Recovered, Armed Robbery Suspects Arrested In Pico Rivera

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Two 10-week-old English Bulldog puppies that were stolen from a Pico Rivera pet store on Christmas Eve were recovered on Saturday.

According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, deputies from the Pico Rivera Station were sent around 1:58 p.m. Wednesday to Mr. Bulldog pet store regarding an armed robbery that had just occurred.

A preliminary investigation revealed a juvenile Hispanic male suspect robbed the store owner at gunpoint and fled from the store with about $500 in cash and two puppies, which were each valued at $2,500.

According to deputies, the suspect fled from the scene in a grey BMW sedan, which was driven by an accomplice, later identified as Jonathan Mora, 18, of Whittier.

Authorities explained that media coverage of the robbery drew public interest, which subsequently led officers to receive a tip on Christmas day.

Thursday night, deputies served a warrant on a residence located in the 9400 block of Whittier Boulevard, which resulted in the arrest of the robbery suspect.

Additional warrants led deputies to arrest an additional accomplice who is a juvenile Hispanic female of West Whittier.

Deputies did not release the names of the juvenile suspects due to their ages.

Mora voluntarily turned himself into detectives at the station on Friday, officials explained. He is being held on $50,000 at the Pico Rivera Station.

According to deputies, both puppies were returned to the pet store.

"One puppy was found by a West Whittier resident on Christmas day, after it was seen wandering in the street near her home," explained Lt. Sergio Escobedo. "The second puppy was returned to the pet store by an unidentified person on Friday."

The puppies were unharmed during the investigation.