Retired Marine’s dog missing after car stolen in Westmoreland County

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WEDNESDAY UPDATE — Pennsylvania State Police have identified a suspect in the theft of the vehicle with Lucky the dog inside it.A criminal complaint shows that state police requested an arrest warrant for Kenneth Crider, 43, of Poolesville, Maryland, on felony charges, including robbery, theft and receiving stolen property.State police have released surveillance images, which can be seen below.In the complaint, police say surveillance video shows Crider arriving at Walmart in Dunbar Township in Willard Martz’s vehicle shortly before 10 a.m. Monday.”Takes out Lucky the dog, and lets it out of the vehicle to, it appears, go to the bathroom, and then he puts the dog back in the car,” said Trooper Steve Limani, a state police spokesperson. “While Mr. Crider goes into Walmart, one of the things he purchases is a pair of clippers.”Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 spoke with Martz’s granddaughter, Shelby, Wednesday after police identified Crider as the suspect.Martz said her family took comfort in hearing about some of Crider’s alleged movements.”We believe that at least knowing that he seemed to care about the dog and let the dog go to the bathroom,” Shelby Martz said. “That gives us hope that he’s taking care of Lucky and been nice to Lucky.”Police are asking that people focus on the man’s facial features because he may have shaved his long hair.They also made a plea to bring Lucky home.”Can you drop the dog off at an animal clinic, or take it to a shelter to drop it off? Can you do something to help put at ease the 80-plus-year-old victim that you stole his dog?” Limani said. “And maybe you weren’t trying to steal a dog, and the dog just happened to be in the vehicle — they care more about the animal than the vehicle.”This is a developing story. Stay with Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 for updates. Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.ORIGINAL STORY (Sept. 23) —Willard Martz endured a long and grueling day on Monday as he waited for news about his best friend.Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 spoke to Martz and his family inside his Donegal home, nearly 12 hours after he was the victim of a car theft. But while sitting with Martz in his living room Monday night, it was apparent his car was secondary.”The dog is a dog,” Martz said, trying to hold back tears. “But he’s more than a dog to me.”Martz, 87, said he had just pulled into the parking lot of a Tractor Supply store in Mount Pleasant about 8:45 a.m. Monday morning. He said he locked his car with his 10-year-old Airedale Terrier, Lucky, inside.Moments later, he said, he could feel a hand in his pocket.”He pulled his hand back out of my pocket and went racing towards my car,” Martz said.The man appeared to have unkempt hair, but everything happened so fast. The man in question had managed to get ahold of Martz’s keys. And before Martz could process what happened, the man was behind the wheel, driving off with Lucky inside.”Lucky is more important than any vehicle, anything at all,” Linda Folino, Willard’s daughter, said. “He is like my father’s best friend.”Pennsylvania State Police confirmed for Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 that troopers are investigating the incident.Martz’s car is a 2016 silver Ford Focus with a license plate of KVR-6440. “If you have , please drop him off someplace,” Martz said. “Don’t let him run wild. Bring him home, bring him home.”

WEDNESDAY UPDATE — Pennsylvania State Police have identified a suspect in the theft of the vehicle with Lucky the dog inside it.

A criminal complaint shows that state police requested an arrest warrant for Kenneth Crider, 43, of Poolesville, Maryland, on felony charges, including robbery, theft and receiving stolen property.

State police have released surveillance images, which can be seen below.

images from surveillance video

In the complaint, police say surveillance video shows Crider arriving at Walmart in Dunbar Township in Willard Martz’s vehicle shortly before 10 a.m. Monday.

“Takes out Lucky the dog, and lets it out of the vehicle to, it appears, go to the bathroom, and then he puts the dog back in the car,” said Trooper Steve Limani, a state police spokesperson. “While Mr. Crider goes into Walmart, one of the things he purchases is a pair of clippers.”

Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 spoke with Martz’s granddaughter, Shelby, Wednesday after police identified Crider as the suspect.

Martz said her family took comfort in hearing about some of Crider’s alleged movements.

“We believe that at least knowing that he seemed to care about the dog and let the dog go to the bathroom,” Shelby Martz said. “That gives us hope that he’s taking care of Lucky and been nice to Lucky.”

Police are asking that people focus on the man’s facial features because he may have shaved his long hair.

They also made a plea to bring Lucky home.

“Can you drop the dog off at an animal clinic, or take it to a shelter to drop it off? Can you do something to help put at ease the 80-plus-year-old victim that you stole his dog?” Limani said. “And maybe you weren’t trying to steal a dog, and the dog just happened to be in the vehicle — they care more about the animal than the vehicle.”

This is a developing story. Stay with Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 for updates. Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.


ORIGINAL STORY (Sept. 23) —

Willard Martz endured a long and grueling day on Monday as he waited for news about his best friend.

Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 spoke to Martz and his family inside his Donegal home, nearly 12 hours after he was the victim of a car theft. But while sitting with Martz in his living room Monday night, it was apparent his car was secondary.

“The dog is a dog,” Martz said, trying to hold back tears. “But he’s more than a dog to me.”

Martz, 87, said he had just pulled into the parking lot of a Tractor Supply store in Mount Pleasant about 8:45 a.m. Monday morning. He said he locked his car with his 10-year-old Airedale Terrier, Lucky, inside.

Moments later, he said, he could feel a hand in his pocket.

“He pulled his hand back out of my pocket and went racing towards my car,” Martz said.

The man appeared to have unkempt hair, but everything happened so fast. The man in question had managed to get ahold of Martz’s keys. And before Martz could process what happened, the man was behind the wheel, driving off with Lucky inside.

Lucky's bone

“Lucky is more important than any vehicle, anything at all,” Linda Folino, Willard’s daughter, said. “He is like my father’s best friend.”

Pennsylvania State Police confirmed for Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 that troopers are investigating the incident.

Martz’s car is a 2016 silver Ford Focus with a license plate of KVR-6440.

“If you have [Lucky], please drop him off someplace,” Martz said. “Don’t let him run wild. Bring him home, bring him home.”

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