Jen, it sounds as though the thief was staking out your house and yard for a while to get to Cajun. it is possible that the thief is the same person who cut through your lock and gate to allow cajun to get out. if so, the police may have grounds to get a search warrant for thecrook's house car and garage for bolt cutters or other tools the crook may have used.(most lowlifes usually are too cheap to throw away the tools they use to burgle.)(hope you saved the cut fence and lock ?) i would not be too quick to announce that you are not willing to prosecute. let the cops and the DA decide whether there is a criminal case her. if the thief is a lowlife well known to the cops as a guy dealing in stolen goods, etc. they may be very interested in getting a warrant to allow them to search his place...
PS- I was formerly an assistant district attorney prosecuting theft cases...)

Good to have Caroline's input on this and although I'm not an attorney, to me she makes absolute sense. I would definitely not tell the officer that I don't plan to press charges. Since you told him already, I would call him and tell him you changed your mind, you would like to press charges if this dog turns out to be Cajun. That might even get the officer to spend a little more time on the matter. As one other member posted, stolen property is important too.

I am under the impression, as a citizen, that thieves rarely have to make restitution for what they steal and stolen property is not a big deal with the cops. So thieves get off without even getting caught. If caught, a little jail time if even that, but your property meanwhile is gone, long gone, and you the victim end up paying once again for a criminal's deeds.

So I would bug the cops a little more and tell them you would be willing to press charges. We can't keep letting this type of thing go, being patient and keeping our distance - as citizens, that is.

 Quote: Sandy Moore

Good to have Caroline's input on this and although I'm not an attorney, to me she makes absolute sense. I would definitely not tell the officer that I don't plan to press charges. Since you told him already, I would call him and tell him you changed your mind, you would like to press charges if this dog turns out to be Cajun. That might even get the officer to spend a little more time on the matter. As one other member posted, stolen property is important too.

I am under the impression, as a citizen, that thieves rarely have to make restitution for what they steal and stolen property is not a big deal with the cops. So thieves get off without even getting caught. If caught, a little jail time if even that, but your property meanwhile is gone, long gone, and you the victim end up paying once again for a criminal's deeds.

So I would bug the cops a little more and tell them you would be willing to press charges. We can't keep letting this type of thing go, being patient and keeping our distance - as citizens, that is.

I agree with Sandy. I think putting polite, twice-daily pressure on the PD to find this guy and resolve the question is not asking too much. Telephone or go down in person twice a day, every day, until you get an answer. I know cops are busy but I think if you don't make a pest of yourself, this could get put off.

 Quote: Sarah Morris

 Quote: Sandy Moore

Good to have Caroline's input on this and although I'm not an attorney, to me she makes absolute sense. I would definitely not tell the officer that I don't plan to press charges. Since you told him already, I would call him and tell him you changed your mind, you would like to press charges if this dog turns out to be Cajun. That might even get the officer to spend a little more time on the matter. As one other member posted, stolen property is important too.

So I would bug the cops a little more and tell them you would be willing to press charges. We can't keep letting this type of thing go, being patient and keeping our distance - as citizens, that is.

I agree with Sandy. I think putting polite, twice-daily pressure on the PD to find this guy and resolve the question is not asking too much. Telephone or go down in person twice a day, every day, until you get an answer. I know cops are busy but I think if you don't make a pest of yourself, this could get put off.

I agree. JENNIFER, BE A PEST!!!!!
I know some people who had a car stolen. They found out where their car was and reported the location to the police, it was about 5 years later and the car was still parked at the thieves address (right next to a busy paved road) and the police had never done a thing. Granted, there are very good cops out there, and this guy sounds like he is, but I still would not be sitting back and just waiting for him to follow through and get your dog back. I think the twice a day call or visit is an excellent idea. And when you call don't just ask if he has found anything, ask him what he has done and what he has found. If he has to say he has done nothing then perhaps he will be motivated to do SOMETHING by the next time you call.
If you don't get satisfaction try talking to his supervisor.
BE A PEST!!!!

JENNIFER!!! I just signed on now for the first time in at least 2 weeks. I can't believe what I'm reading. I have been praying for you and Cajun since you and I first spoke. I can't tell you how happy I am to see you may have found him.

I am one of those that believe that all these prayers and good wishes coming your way will help affect a positive outcome.

Jennifer, you're an amazingly cool chick and you and Cajun deserve nothing less than a happy reunion and homecoming!

Gotta go, I have a prayer or two to say...

Thanks everyone - I do have the locks, but the fence was not cut, it was pulled outwards and twisted. All this information was given when I made the report and told again to the officer who is currently handling this. He is the one that asked what my main priority is - getting the dog back, or pressing charges for theft.

The letting him out the outer gate is my theory, I have zero proof of that.

I also don't know if the person who currently has him, if this is Cajun(it might not be) is the person who took him. There would have to be statements from people, neighbors, visitors, etc saying that the dog was at the residence/with that person from the day Cajun "went missing." Because he was in the yard at the time and nobody broke into the house I cannot prove the cut gate lock has anything to do with a "missing dog."

I'm pretty sure most people think he just hopped the fence and got picked up by someone. The cut locks could have been for other reasons, we have several cars stored here for family members that don't want them parked on the street and we have a full wood shop with tons of tools and equipment in half of the garage at the top of the driveway.

I don't want this to drag out longer than it has to, if the person wants to try and protest that he just found the dog and had no idea, didn't see any posters and doesn't read the paper, or that I sold him the dog or that it's his dog etc the DNA test to prove he is mine takes time.. and what happens to Cajun if I have to go to court over this? Where does he go, the pound?

Maybe I'm being a pansy but all I want is my dog back

P.S. I will be calling for information/updates on whether or not they have located this person.

Edited by Jennifer Marshal (01/22/2008 05:40 PM)
Edit reason: PS

Ok, Jennifer, it's been 4 days since you've posted that Cajun was seen and you had the license plate number. Tomorrow it will be 5 days. If THAT isn't enough time for the cops to get hold of this guy, exactly HOW MUCH TIME do they need??? The delay on the part of the cops is really ticking me off. I understand that you're trying to tread lightly with the cops, feeling that anything short of that would in some way interfere with getting Cajun back.

I feel the exact opposite. No disrespect to the cops on this board, I think many of you know that I have nothing but respect for you, but this is unacceptable. This delay has no reason that I can see, as a civilian. The man has been tracked down, and they know where he is. I never did understand the cop calling him in the first place. What's that about?? In any case, Cajun should have been home with you by now. A lot can happen to a dog in 5 days, especially when stolen by a jerk.

He may be considered "just" stolen property, but he is LIVING and ALIVE stolen property and this needs to be resolved in a professional manner by the cops and resolved quickly, which is something I'm sure they're able to do. I can't believe any less.

Edited to add that Jennifer, I feel so badly for you. I'm so sorry you've had to wait this long. This is just unacceptable.

Sandy -

The person with the dog was not at the address listed for the car. I'm not sure if the person moved or it was not his car. The officer said he got contact information and that he was calling to get in touch with him, perhaps to find out where he is?

I did call yesterday, no response to my message. I will call tomorrow and see if they have located the person, if the officer has seen the dog yet.

I'm not sure that he is considered stolen no matter what I have said and having the gate locks and such. They are probably of the mind that they are doing me a favor.. and I agree.

I don't know. Maybe I am being too soft on the matter, but I will continue to contact them every other day as they should have been able to locate this person by now. Unless he is difficult to track down.

Suggestion....feel free to criticize.....

Go to the DMV, tell them that you were recently a victim of a hit and run. Someone hit your car in a parking lot. A passerby wrote down the license plate. You would like them to look up the owner of the plate. Your lawyer wants this information. There will probably be a small fee. (they might not give it to you...it depends where you live)

Once you have the owner of the car's name, go to the police department. Tell the police department that you submitted information, 5 days ago and that there has been no action. Tell them that you know the owner of the car that spotted was Mr. <name from DMV>. Tell them that you are concerned for your dogs well being and that you have no other choice than to approach this person of interest. You will have a bunch of friend accompany you (for safety of course) to question this person. You would prefer to do this with a police escort, but if they are too busy that is fine too. At no time make any threats or demands. Calmly just inform them of your intent.

Also tell them that a journalist friend of yours will be coming along for the ride, to write a story for the local paper. Watch their reaction and adjust the plan accordingly.

--Dan

Dan
I love it!