[News]Man gets 8 years for stealing pups at gunpoint

[dani23d]

That is horrible! Breeders, be careful who you sell your puppies to. And make sure you have someone with you at all times. I feel so scared! I'll never have a stranger meet me at my house. This just made me that much more careful.

[I Love Bailey]

He got what he deserved! It should be more!

I am glad to hear this update. I have often wondered if they ever found them.

[crb]

I remember when this happened, I'm glad to hear he is serving time. What about the other person? There were 2 people that robbed them.

That's why I get so nervous when I walk my babies around our neighborhood. I get stopped every now and then by people driving by, they start asking if I breed, or if I would sell them one of my babies. I always make sure I have my pepper spray and fog horn. I also stand there till they drive off so that I make sure they won't see where I live. We live in a busy neighborhood, so there is always someone driving around or kids outside, I don't think anyone would do anything but you never know. My dh will usually go with me, but sometimes I'm alone. The only reason we had an alarm installed on our house was because of our babies, we don't care about anyting else, just don't take my babies!!

[Maxi]

I am soo glad that man deserved that time in jail! Maybe this incident will make other bastards think twice before doing something like that! Horrible!

[kanda]

Wow, 8 years. Murderers in my country get less than that...
Hope they rot!

[Mezzi]

I haven't been on here in a while, but i remember when that story first broke!! thank goodness those creeps got caught and i hope they serve all of their time!

[ARCHIE]

I remember that story well.
Finally some justice Let's hope he meets animals lover's in prison
Now there's justice!

[Zanders' mom]

Hurray for justice!! So glad they got jail, hopefully that will be a warning to other dog thieves. I'm happy the pups were returned yeaaaa!!

[Cinq1964]

Hooray for justice!!! They deserve it!!! Way to Go! Nice to have a happy ending!

[fergiesmom]

I am glad that they got the babies back and that they are getting jail time. My question is "Did they only get jail time because of the gun?" I truely believe that this is the case and that is just plain sad. There are a lot of crimes happening involving puppies (especially little breeds) when these are reported the owners are being told that they don't have the man power to do anything about it.

[Jenn218]

I don't remember this story...but I am glad that the family has their babies back! Gunpoint or not....anyone who steals something (pets, etc) should get lots of time in jail to think about their actions!

[monkeydab]

what a horrific story. glad to see the perpetrators were caught and sentenced appropriately. had they not used a deadly weapon during this act, they probably would not have been dealt with so severely and pled down. i once worked for legal action for animals in nyc and was usually on the side of bringing a claim against an animal abuser. although my cases were not as severe as the one listed, it did provide me with a sence of gratitude in defeating a landlord who wanted to evict an tenant who owned a 3.5 lb yorkshire terrier. again, glad to see these cases are being taken seriously. monkey

Originally Posted by Judy in Waco

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22598058/

Man gets 8 years for stealing pups at gunpoint
2007 Los Angeles dognapping was caught on surveillance video

updated 5:24 p.m. CT, Thurs., Jan. 10, 2008
LOS ANGELES - A man who stole purebred Yorkshire terrier puppies at gunpoint was sentenced Thursday to eight years in prison.
Troy Cabral sobbed as he was sentenced in Superior Court. He pleaded guilty in November to robbery with use of a gun and assault with a firearm in the Feb. 23 holdup.
Cabral's attorney, James P. Cooper III, said the sentence "was appropriate considering the allegation of gun use."
Prosecutors said Cabral, 24, and Ryan Betton, 19, went to the Wilshire-area home of a family that had advertised the puppies for sale at $2,500 each. They said they wanted to see the puppies, then returned later and rushed inside when the door was opened.
They ordered the residents to the floor at gunpoint and stuffed three puppies and an adult dog into garbage bags before fleeing.
Cabral and Betton turned themselves in after surveillance camera footage of the theft aired on television. The dogs were later recovered.
Betton was sentenced to two years in prison in December after pleading guilty to robbery.
© 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[Lou]

I'm sure he got the jail time due to the fact that the value of the puppies made it a federal crime committed with a gun. That is a real no no.

Hey Fergiesmom!!!!!!!! Glad you finally joined us. You are going to love it here.

[remus]

I am glad they got jail time.
But those people are just dumb animals. There is no future for them now, or when they get out. They will remain criminals for the rest of their lives. Jail just makes you dumber and dumber. So to think he will come out after 8 years and be a model citizen is absurd.

Selling Yorkies for $2500 is also absurd for that matter. Unless that dog is trained to do my taxes and manage my portfolio, $2500 is a rip off.

[Yorkie Luv of 3]

I remember seeing the video of this robbery,, it was horrifying!!! stealing babies at gunpoint from a persons home!!!simply because they know that Yorkies bring a high price,, such a sad state of the world,,,,I'm glad they were caught and the babies returned,, and very glad they were sentenced. the image of those people being robbed at gunpoint for their dogs made me really think ,,,as i am almost always alone walking my dogs, I now never go out without our "protection"