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Bulldog is reunited with California owner after being used in Florida burglaries

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Posted at 9:46 AM, Nov 21, 2019
and last updated 2019-11-21 11:15:58-05

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Police have reunited a California man with his dog stolen four years ago in California after she was found being used in home burglaries in Sarasota.

According to Sarasota Police, two people have been arrested for a string of eight burglaries on Lido Key last month.

Police say the suspects had been seen walking a bulldog in the area and during the burglaries, and on October 20 took the pair into custody inside a home on Grant Drive.

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An electronic chip in the dog was traced to a man in California who had reported the dog, a white French bulldog named Maggie, taken in October 2015.

Transportation was arranged for Maggie to be returned to California last week, and on Monday she was reunited with her family.

52-year-old Tracie Defee of Paterson, California and 48-year-old Michael Paine of Sarasota are facing numerous charges, including tresspass, burglary, grand theft, and dealing in stolen property.

Tracie Defree and Michael Paine.jpg
Tracie Defree and Michael Paine