Two people arrested for alleged theft of Loranger puppy; dogs missing | Crime/Police

The puppies were on a leash and taking a bathroom break in the backyard in Loranger last month when two strangers burst in and stole them, authorities said.

However, the suspected puppy thieves were caught on home surveillance video and turned themselves in Thursday, Tangipahoa Parish sheriff’s officials said.

Sarah Folse, 31, and Deanna Witten, 52, both of Amite, were each booked into the parish jail on charges of theft and trespassing, officials said.

However, the puppies, three German Shepherds, remain missing, officials said.

Ashley Rodrigue, spokeswoman for the Tangipahoa Sheriff’s Office, said the owner of the animals raised the dogs and sold them for $350 each.

A deposit had already been placed on two of the stolen animals, she said.

Officials said the thefts occurred June 22 at a home in the 17,000 block of Louisiana State University 40 in the Loranger neighborhood.

The two suspects drove up the driveway of the house in a white vehicle and later disappeared with the puppies, officials said.

Since their arrest, Folse and Witten have not given investigators a motive for the alleged puppy theft or the whereabouts of the dogs, Rodrigue said.

Sheriff’s detectives continue to need the public’s help in locating the dogs, officials said.

Sheriff Gerald Sticker is urging anyone with information on the puppies’ whereabouts to contact Criminal Investigation at (985) 748-3335.

Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling the Crime Stoppers of Tangipahoa tip line at 1 (800) 554-5245 or by visiting www.tangicrimestoppers.com and clicking on the “P3 Tips” or “Submit a Tip!” icon.

Tipsters may be eligible for a cash reward.