A Boston reporter was covering the story of a dog theft last week when — as luck would have it — she spotted the very dog that had been stolen.
WHDH-TV’s Juliana Mazza was in Cambridge reporting on Titus, a 13-year-old German Short Haired Pointer who had been taken from his owner’s car on May 7.
While out with her photographer, Juliana noticed a man walking a dog that looked suspiciously like Titus, and managed to stop him long enough to read the dog’s collar and call police, who returned the beloved pet to his owner.
What are the odds? A Boston reporter was covering the story of a dog theft last week when — as luck would have it — she spotted the very dog that had been stolen
On the scene: WHDH-TV’s Juliana Mazza was in Cambridge reporting on Titus, a 13-year-old German Short Haired Pointer who had been taken from his owner’s car on May 7
Found: Titus, a white dog with spots and a brown head, was wearing an orange collar with his name on it
Cambridge police tweeted this weekend that on Friday, at 12:32 p.m, an ‘unknown suspect broke into and entered a vehicle’ that was parked outside a biotechnology company on the Charles River.
On the news: Juliana and her cameraman, John Guice, were out reporting on the theft from the very parking lot from which the dog was taken
‘The suspect was then observed walking the dog over the BU Bridge into Boston,’ the alert continued, with two grainy photos.
Titus, a white dog with spots and a brown head, was wearing an orange collar with his name on it.
Juliana and her cameraman, John Guice, were out reporting on the theft in the very parking lot from which the dog was taken, when John noticed a man walking a dog.
Juliana realized that the pup looked a lot like the photo she had seen of Titus — and quickly, she leapt into action.
‘The first thing I did is ask if I could pet the dog because I wanted to get down to the name tag,’ she told Inside Edition.
This guy: Juliana realized that the pup looked a lot like the photo she’d seen of Titus — and quickly, she leapt into action
‘The first thing I did is ask if I could pet the dog because I wanted to get down to the name tag,’ she said
Got him: When she confirmed that it was, in fact, Titus, she called police, who arrested the man
Today I was on the job looking into a stolen dog in #Cambridge. I NEVER could’ve imagined that my photog & I would be the ones to actually FIND him! Happy to report we stopped the suspect (whose been arrested) & helped get #Titus back to his dog dad❤️ AND IT’S ALL ON CAMERA ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/ICj5viviRg
— Juliana Mazza (@julianamazzatv) May 8, 2021
Her cameraman was rolling, capturing Julianna as she knelt down to pet Titus and made conversation with the man walking him.
‘We started asking the man a few questions, and he admits to taking the animal,’ Juliana said in her news report.
‘He was just barking in the car,’ the man said. ‘And I walked past the car and I thought it was supposed to be a dog I was dog walking. It wasn’t kidnapping, it was just a simple mistake.’
But by then, 24 hours had passed, and the man had clearly not returned the dog, nor had he called the number on the dog tag.
‘You didn’t think to call the number on the tag?’ Julian asked him.
‘I did, but then I tried using one phone, the phone was broken, and, um… I just…’ he said, trailing off.
Back home: The pup was soon reunited Titus with his tearful owner, Greg Siesczkiewicz
Hard-hitting: Julianna questioned the man, who said he thought he was supposed to be walking the car and called it a ‘mistake’
Charged: According to WHDH , Gariepy faced a judge on Monday and said he is ‘really sorry that happened’
‘WHAT ARE THE ODDS?!’ Julianna later wrote on Twitter. ‘My photog John & I were covering a stolen dog story in Cambridge when all of a sudden we spot THE DOG!!!’
At that point, Juliana called the police, who came within minutes and soon reunited Titus with his tearful owner, Greg Siesczkiewicz.
‘I’m just glad that the person came back,’ Greg said. ‘And I’m glad that you guys were there.’
Police identified the dog-napper as Kyle Gariepy, 29, who was arrested and charged with larceny of more than $1,200, as well and breaking and entering into a vehicle to commit a felony.
‘WHAT ARE THE ODDS?!’ Julianna later wrote on Twitter. ‘My photog John & I were covering a stolen dog story in Cambridge when all of a sudden we spot THE DOG!!! We were able to convince the suspect to give us the pup & kept him engaged until @CambridgePolice arrived shortly after. We are SO HAPPY Titus is safe!’
According to WHDH, Gariepy faced a judge on Monday and said he is ‘really sorry that happened.’
‘The dog was treated very well and I’m just sorry that it ended this way. I am. And I feel really bad,’ he said.