Surveillance Camera Captures Video Of OKC Dognappers

Dana Hertneky, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A new addition to the family is swiped in broad daylight. A metro man caught the puppy-poaching on surveillance video and now he wants help catching the culprits.

The owners of Heads up Sprinkler systems say they bought a pit bull to protect their property. Ironically, it was the pit that was stolen.

According to the surveillance video, it was about 10:30 a.m. Sunday when the alleged dognappers first approached the business.

After surveying the situation, a man jumps over the fence and a short time later returns with the puppy, stuffing him under a hole in the fence. The man and woman then take off with the dog.

"It's just the principle of somebody stealing her," said Dakota Epperly, the dog's owner.

Epperly is part owner of Heads Up sprinklers and bought the dog on Thursday. He says the puppy was tied up next to a dog house with plenty of food and water. And that's where he says the video, shows the man disappearing too while the woman waits outside the fence.

"We've talked to a few of the neighbors and asked if they've seen it and no one's heard anything," Epperly said.

What the thieves may not have counted on was this camera hidden in a tree. So after Epperly noticed the puppy was missing Sunday afternoon that's where he turned.

And now he's hoping this video will help him get his dog back.

Epperly says they are offering a reward for information on the people who stole his dog. They are also filing a police report.