A five-year-old boy had his new puppy stolen through a kitchen window.
The boy's mum, Karen Higgins, first knew something was wrong when she heard Vitani, her 15-month-old French Bulldog 'aggressively' barking in the kitchen after she left her and their new 12-week-old puppy, Stitch, in their beds. The 30-year-old then heard dishes crashing and a candle she got for mothers day smash on the window ledge at around 10pm on Thursday, May 19.
The mum-of-two ran straight to the back room of her home on Wilburn Street, Walton, and saw her fence was wide open. She then ran into the street shouting 'somebody is in my house' and called police.
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Karen said: "I had just locked up and put the dogs in the kitchen before heading upstairs to bed to watch the soaps. I heard this sound of dishes crashing and a big smash, which was a candle my eldest got me for mother's day.
"I ran straight to the window and saw the back fence open. I would never do that because it's always bolted because of the dogs.
"I ran into the street because I was too scared to go into the kitchen, I was screaming 'somebody is in my house' but nobody was listening. In the end somebody came over and went into the kitchen for me and said my dog (Stitch) was gone and the window was forced open."
Karen had only bought the dog a month earlier for her five-year-old son Tyler, who is autistic and struggles communicating with people. Since coming into their home Karen said Stitch was 'stuck to Tyler like glue'.
She told The ECHO : "Since he came into the house (Stitch) he's made a bond with this boy, they're inseparable. I can't even describe this bond. He was staying at his dad's and every time I FaceTime him he says 'where's the baby', that's what he calls Stitch."
Merseyside Police are investigating the incident and found the dog's collar in a home in Walton. A 31-year-old was arrested on suspicion of burglary and is being questioned by police.
A spokesperson from Merseyside Police said: "We have arrested a man following a burglary in Walton yesterday, Thursday 19 May. At around 10.05pm we received a report that a French bulldog puppy had been stolen from an address on Wilburn Street.
"Following enquiries, police arrested a 31-year-old man from Walton on suspicion of burglary. He was taken into custody and will be questioned by police. Enquiries into the incident are ongoing."
Karen has now said Merseyside Police have returned the dog to her, less than 24 hours after the burglary. She said: "I can’t thank Merseyside police enough for what they did for my family."
If you witnessed the incident or have any information, message @MerPolCC on Twitter, 'Merseyside Police Contact Centre' on Facebook, or by calling 101, with reference 22000345999.
Alternatively, call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or report online at https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously. Always call 999 if a crime is in progress.
