Rochester Police – Louis Vuitton Belt Linked to Theft of Puppy

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - Rochester Police were able to track down and retrieve a stolen black lab puppy that was stolen during series of unusual incidents that began a few weeks ago when a 16-year-old sold a Louis Vuitton belt to an acquaintance for $400. The teenager told police the purchaser, later identified as 18-year-old Omar Yaysin Mohamed, failed to pay for the belt and apparently became upset when the 16-year-old demanded payment last week.

Police Lieutenant Mike Sadauskis says last Thursday, in an incident that initially was not reported to police, the 16-year-old and his 17-year-old brother were alone in their family’s home when Mohamed and over a half dozen other people, some armed with knives, came to the residence and demanded the teenager come outside. When he refused, the group pounded on the windows and doors but eventually left.

Later the same day, the victim told police Mohamed and two other males with covered faces kicked in the front door to the home in the 1300 block of Turnberry Drive Southeast and confronted the two teenagers inside the residence with knives. Lieutenant Sadauskis says at some point, the black lab puppy approached the intruders and Mohamed allegedly picked up the dog and threatened to kill it before the three males left with the puppy in their possession.

Police were able to locate and arrest Mohamed on Friday at a home in the 300 block of Rose Drive Southeast, which is only about a block from the victim’s residence. His arrest led to a home in the 900 block of 41st Street Northwest where the black puppy was found in good health. Sadauskis says the person who had the dog told investigators he had purchased it from a pot dealer for $150 dollars. He says officers are still looking for the two other males involved in the home invasion.