Heikki, one of two dogs brazenly stolen recently in Silicon Valley, is back at home.
The four-month-old Bernese Mountain dog was turned over to Tom Lofgren of Los Gatos at 5:30 a.m. – and the $1,000 reward was paid “no questions asked.”
“We managed to hold up our end and didn’t ask any questions but we have a million of them,” said a tired Kit Lofgren, Tom’s wife. “We are relieved, thrilled, overwhelmed.”
Heikki was outside with the Lofgrens’ black Lab, Hank, when he was stolen from their front yard July 18. The couple posted numerous fliers, called 500 vets and appealed to the Mercury News.
A story about the theft of Heikki and a Yorkshire terrier named Bebe ran in the newspaper Tuesday. Television picked up the story.
The Lofgrens’ received a call from a woman at 4:50 a.m. who said, “I think my boyfriend has your dog and I’m going to get him right now.” The couple has children so Kit Lofgren stayed at home while her husband drove to meet the woman at 5:30 a.m.
“I believe her story that it was her boyfriend,” Kit Lofgren said.
Heikki recognized Lofgren immediately and started jumping around. Once they got home, “then everyone started jumping around,” Kit Lofgren said.
The couple had arranged for Santa Clara County Sheriff’s deputy to follow Lofgren at a distance when the dog was exchanged. They said the deputies agreed to make sure they were safe, but doubted they could put together a case against the dognapper.
“They followed her and have her license number,” Kit Lofgren said.
Bebe, the Yorkshire terrier, was snatched while its owner’s mother was walking the dog in South San Jose on July 24. The family has offered a $1,500 reward.
If you have information about Bebe, Kellie Chau can be reached at (408) 205-1451. Information may be provided to San Jose police officer Toshi Hata by calling (408) 277-4166.
Contact Linda Goldston at lgoldston@mercurynews.com or (408) 920-5862.
