Crime & Safety

Who Would Kidnap a Therapy Dog? Skokie Woman Charged

A 33-year-old Skokie woman is accused of grabbing a Pomeranian therapy pup from a car outside a Niles grocery store.

A Skokie woman has been charged with burglary in the kidnapping of a 7-month-old therapy dog, the Niles Police Department said Wednesday.

According to officials, detectives “painstakingly reviewed hours of videotape footage” obtained from surveillance cameras around the crime scene. The Pomeranian puppy named “Luigi” was stolen from an unlocked car outside Fresh Farms Market, 5740 W. Touhy Ave., police said.

Adina Tiran, 33, of the 4000 block of Mulford Street, was charged with one count of burglary to auto, a Class 2 Felony. If found guilty the penalty is three to seven years in prison and a fine up to $25,000, police said.

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Luigi is a therapy dog used by the victim’s two children.

Investigators were able to identify and link two vehicles used in the crime to a Skokie residence. Niles police investigators went to the Skokie location and saw a woman holding Luigi in her arms and leaving through a rear door. The woman and dog were taken to the Niles Police Department.

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A collar that held Luigi’s name and rabies tag was also recovered. Luigi was released to his grateful owner Wednesday morning.

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