(CREDIT: Google Maps)

An English Bulldog puppy valued at $7,600 has been returned safely to the Furry Babies store in the Fox Valley Mall.

In a bizarre series of events, the Aurora Police Department had been looking since Sunday (Sept. 29, 2019) for two people suspected in an elaborate plan to steal the dog.

According to the preliminary investigation, the suspects used a fake identity to apply online to adopt the puppy, then visited the dog in the store over the weekend.

When the suspects arrived in the store with their infant child, investigators believe they showed a fake identification card and gave incorrect information to the store’s clerks and eventually took off with the dog.

This afternoon (Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2019), Aurora Police Department Media Relations Coordinator Paris Lewbel sent out an update saying an unnamed person returned the dog to the store this morning.

(CREDIT: Google Maps)

“The person told the store employees that a couple asked him to return the dog to the store,” he said. “The dog was unharmed, and the store confirmed through the dog’s microchip that it was the correct dog.”

Lewbel said another person — an anonymous caller — provided the names of the possible suspects after seeing a story with the photo on a local media outlet.

“Aurora Police detectives continue to follow up on leads and thank the community for their help in this case,” Lewbel said.

Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to call the Aurora Police Department Investigations Division at 630-256-5500.

SOURCE: Aurora Police Department news release