Thieves dump stolen van with dogs inside
By Gina Spadafori
April 30, 2007
That this thing started less than five mile from my home isn’t comforting, but at least there’s a happy ending. In an unusual twist on the classic “idiot thief steals car with baby inside,” this time the dirtbag took at van from outside a dog show with three St. Bernards inside. From The Sacramento Bee:
Bill Buell stared down the road leading away from the Red Lion Inn near Arden Fair mall on Sunday morning and begged for his van — with three champion-bred St. Bernards inside — to be found.
He watched cars drive by on the Capital City Freeway, hoping to spot the aqua and white Ford E250.
The van had been taken overnight, leaving Buell with empty grooming tables as the Sacramento-Sierra St. Bernard Club-sponsored dog show went on.
Until, minutes after noon, his phone rang.
Seconds later, Buell, 64, rushed toward the dog-judging ring in the hotel’s courtyard and bellowed: “Hey folks, they got my dogs. They’re alive!”
Then the Banning resident fell to his knees in the grass. His body began to shake with sobs. St. Bernard enthusiasts made a circle around him, wiping away tears, embracing each other and Buell.
The picture with the story on the SacBee Web site tells it all: Mr. Buell collapsing with relief, and who can blame him? Thank heavens the dogs are OK. The thieves? Probably never be caught, since the van was found dumped.
He left his dogs in a vehicle overnight. He left the keys IN the van. He deserves to be scared straight. I’m glad the dogs were ok.
Comment by Anon — April 30, 2007 @ 12:22 pm
The van in question was a highly customized one, with a bubble roof, an elaborate air-conditioning system and a second generator, all designed to keep the dogs comfortable and cool and safe at the show. The van was hitched to a trailer in which Mr. Buell was sleeping with more dogs. There were about 100 dogs and their people at the show grounds. Other RVs and trailers and vans were parked nearby, in which other people and their dogs were sleeping. Who would expect a thief to unhitch the van and undo all the other connections? The thieves left the van abandoned, locked it and rolled up the windows tightly on a very hot day. Now THAT was very scary but thankfully the dogs are all OK.
Comment by RE Barrett — April 30, 2007 @ 9:02 pm