Cops: Woman charged with stealing pet store puppy
A Hauppauge woman was arrested Saturday and charged with stealing a purebred Pug puppy worth $1,800 from a Dix Hills pet store in February, Suffolk County police said.
Krista Kazan, 43, of 1 Rollingwood Court, was arraigned on a charge of fourth-degree grand larceny -- a felony -- Sunday and released on her own recognizance.
She is due back at First District Court in Central Islip on May 9.
Peter Stein, Kazan's Smithtown-based attorney, said his client is a dog lover who has never been accused of or charged with a crime.
"She is heartsick over this allegation and we are going to be fighting the charges vigorously," Stein said. "We are very confident we are going to resolve this matter successfully."
Video surveillance at the Yippity Yap store at 1802 E. Route 25 on Feb. 22 showed a woman taking the black puppy from a play area and then putting it into an oversized bag, police said.
Police said the puppy was returned to the store by a family member a day after the surveillance photos were released.
Ex-Abercrombie & Fitch CEO pleads not guilty ... Mother of child therapist speaks ... Early voting starts tomorrow ... feedme: Fall dining
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