Rottweiler Puppy Recovered After Police Say Man Ran Off With It

MANCHESTER, NH — Manchester police have made an arrest in an investigation involving the theft of a puppy from Orange Street.

Police said, earlier this month, a woman reported her Rottweiler puppy was taken from her third-floor porch on Orange Street. She told police that prior to the puppy going missing, she had seen an unknown male snooping around the property. Shortly after, she went outside to check on the puppy, and saw the same man running down the stairs with the dog.

The owner lost sight of him after he jumped a fence and she immediately went out to look for the puppy. The dog was later found unharmed in an alleyway off Union Street.

Investigators obtained surveillance video and in the video, a suspect can first be seen walking through a parking lot near the residence. Police said later, the same person was seen running with a puppy in his arms. Police also learned after the theft, the suspect hid his sweatshirt.

Police were able to identify the suspect as Justin LaClair, 20, of Manchester. He was arrested on Tuesday and charged with felony theft by unauthorized taking and falsifying evidence. LaClair was released on a $500 unsecured bond and will have a hearing at a later date.