Overview
- The theft occurred Tuesday morning outside Animal Lovers Pet Salon on North Clybourn in Lincoln Park after the owner briefly left the running van.
- Officers found the van in a Lakeview alley near Lakewood and Oakdale with swapped Indiana-to-Illinois plates and additional stolen items inside.
- Edwin Herrera, 46, was taken into custody near the recovery site and now faces felony counts including possession of a stolen vehicle and burglary tools, plus misdemeanors such as criminal trespass and animal cruelty.
- All eight dogs were found unharmed in the van and were reunited with their owners the same day.
- Police tracked a discarded cellphone to the 1500 block of West Homer Street and received public tips; the boarding company says it will add new security protocols.