Stolen surveillance camera and puppies lead to an arrest

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (KNEP) - A family out of town called police because an elderly woman was stealing their surveillance camera off of their front porch.

The homeowners told police that they saw someone take their surveillance camera and put it into a Lays potato chip bag.

Officers confirmed that the woman in question was 70-year-old Catherine Salazar.

Court documents stated that officers proceeded to the home of the stolen camera when they saw Salazar driving away.

Police tried to conduct a traffic stop, but Salazar did not comply and fled from police.

This led to officers setting up a spike strip which resulted in Salazar stopping before coming in contact with the spikes.

When police approached Salazar in her vehicle, they noticed that she had a female mastiff in the front seat that showed signs of just giving birth to puppies.

Investigation shows that the female mastiff had been reported stolen from another local woman that same morning.

Officers noticed that a mastiff puppy was wedged between the drivers seat and a dog cage.

This led to suspending the air flow to the puppy and resulted in the puppy dying.

At that point officers conducted a search of the vehicle and found Marijuana and a pipe in Salazar’s vehicle.

During the search they found out that she had stolen a total of 10 puppies from the same mastiff litter.

Salazar was arrested for 12 counts of Theft by Unlawful Taking, Two Counts of Felony Animal Abuse, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Her bond is set for $46,500.

Salazar was also charged with Criminal Child Enticement and Attempted Theft last week after attempting to steal kittens.