A Boca Raton woman broke into a neighbor’s apartment, stole their puppy, and yanked on the dog’s leash to restrain it when it recognized its rightful owners while out on a walk, authorities said.
Temple Inman, 57, yelled at her neighbors on June 21, saying they were mistreating their black Shih Tzu puppy, Binnie, deputies said.
Later that day, Binnie’s owners discovered she was missing from their home — and the screen to their patio door was cut.
The following day, the family noticed Inman walking a black Shih Tzu puppy in the apartment complex. When the man confronted Inman and accused her of stealing Binnie, Inman cursed at him, according to the arrest report.
The man then called out to Binnie in Portuguese and Binnie started running toward him, but Inman pulled violently on the leash to hold Binnie back, causing the dog to gag, authorities said.
Temple Inman, 57, is accused of breaking into her neighbor’s home in Boca Raton and stealing the neighbor’s black Shih Tzu puppy. (Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office)
Video obtained by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office shows the man encountering Inman later that day outside the lobby as she walks three dogs.
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Inman and two dogs go into the building, but the small black dog is “fighting Inman to stay outside near [the man]” and the dog continues looking back at the man as Inman pulls it inside, according to the arrest report.
Deputies arrested Inman on July 8. Her son returned Binnie to its owners on July 12, according to the sheriff’s office.
Inman is facing charges of grand theft and burglary of an unoccupied structure.
