BUSTED: Woman Steals Teacup Yorkie, Arrested

Melissa Strong Of West Palm Beach Charged With Grand Theft

Melissa Strong Of West Palm Beach Charged With Grand Theft

WEST PALM, BEACH, FL – Boca Post (BocaPost.com) — Melissa Strong of West Palm Beach has been arrested and charged with grand theft, according to jail records released to Boca Post by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.

Melissa Strong, 43, of the 1000 block of Presidential Way in West Palm Beach, has been arrested by the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office. Boca Post has been notified that Strong has been charged with grand theft after she has been accused of stealing a Teacup Yorkie from Star Pups in West Palm Beach.

PBSO says that deputies responded to a theft of an 8-week-old black & tan female Teacup Yorkie.  Upon arrival, deputies learned that a female, later identified as Melissa Strong, entered the store, Star Pups Inc., and requested to see small dogs. An employee brought a few dogs out for Strong to look at and then allowed her to hold an 8-week-old black and tan, female Teacup Yorkie. Strong asked if she could take the Yorkie home to convince her husband to allow her to keep her. The employee advised she cannot leave the store with the Yorkie without paying for her.

As the employee was attempting to close the store for the evening Strong was seen running out of the store with the Yorkie in her left arm. Strong was seen getting into a 2011 black Mercedes Benz, a four-door sedan, with a California license plate, then fled in an unknown direction.

The female Yorkie is two months old, weighs 1.7 pounds, and is valued at $4,500.00.  She is microchipped.

PBSO later identified Strong and apprehended her. PBSO has not made it clear whether or not the puppy has recovered. Boca Post has requested a comment from Star Pups, Inc but has not yet received a response.

Melissa Strong was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail at 3:21 PM on Friday afternoon and then released on a $3,000 bond several hours later.