Animal Detective

Chapter 279 - 239: Stealing a Dog

Shen Xin took the phone, zoomed in on the photo, and looked at the Golden Retriever behind the man.

The man looked tense, still tugging the Golden Retriever behind him as he explained, "All Goldens look alike, don’t they?"

’They do look similar, but there are subtle differences in the color of their coats.’

Shen Xin held out his hand. "Let me take a look and compare. If there’s no issue, then she’s probably just mistaken. We can clear this up right now, don’t you think?"

Shen Xin wasn’t about to take her side just because she was a woman who seemed vulnerable.

’We’ll know for sure once we compare them.’

"Also, did you raise this Golden Retriever from a pup? If you’ve had it this long, why sell it now?"

Shen Xin pressed.

The man avoided his gaze and suddenly changed his story. "Actually, I found this dog. I didn’t steal it! If it’s really hers, then she can have it back."

Only then did he pull the dog out in front of him.

Shen Xin glanced at the man but said nothing, just comparing the dog to the photo.

’He had to admit, the darker patch of fur on its leg was a perfect match.’

’The problem is, the man’s now saying he found it.’

The girl cried out, "What about what you said just a minute ago? You said you raised him! Now that a cop is here, suddenly you just *found* him?"

Shen Xin gestured for the girl to calm down, then took the leash.

The moment he loosened it, the Golden Retriever immediately bounded over to the girl, incessantly rubbing its head against her pant leg.

"Niangao!"

The girl immediately knelt down and hugged the Golden Retriever.

The Golden Retriever tried to bark in response, but it couldn’t with the muzzle on.

But this reaction alone made it obvious the dog knew the girl well.

Shen Xin looked at the man. "So, if you don’t mind my asking, where did you find him?"

Shen Xin’s gaze was calm, but the man’s expression had become extremely unnatural. He gritted his teeth. "I forgot."

Shen Xin smiled. "Then when did you find him? How long have you had him? You must remember that, right?"

Shen Xin was smiling, but the man certainly wasn’t. He stammered, "I... I don’t really remember. It’s been a while."

Shen Xin shook his head to himself. "Alright, how about this: let’s go to the station and explain the situation. You see, her phone was dropped and the screen is broken, and you also shoved her to the ground. We have to deal with that too, don’t we?"

The dispute had escalated; it wasn’t just about the dog anymore.

’Her phone was shattered. He had to answer for that.’

The moment the police station was mentioned, the man immediately panicked. "I already gave her the dog back! And the phone... whatever she wants, I’ll pay for it, and that’ll be the end of it!"

The girl shook her head. "I don’t want your money. You can tell the police where you found Niangao. I’ve been looking for him for so, so long and could never find him. You need to tell me exactly what happened."

The man was getting desperate. He glared at her. "I already gave him back to you! Why can’t you just let it go?"

"*I’m* the one who can’t let it go?"

They looked like they were about to start arguing again.

Shen Xin stepped in. "Alright, let’s just go back to the station and get this all straightened out."

With that, he motioned for the man to start walking.

Just then, the man suddenly wrenched his arm away, shaking off Shen Xin’s hand, and bolted.

Shen Xin had been expecting it. He reacted instantly, closing the distance in a single bound to grab the man’s shoulder. He then pulled him back, hooked a leg behind him, and threw him to the ground in a standard police takedown.

"What are you running for?"

Shen Xin pinned him down tightly, asking in a low voice.

The man tried to struggle, but it was no use. He cried out frantically, "This has nothing to do with me! I swear I didn’t steal the dog!"

Pinning him down, Shen Xin started to pull out his handcuffs.

’I gave you a chance to talk this out, but you wouldn’t. You had to run.’

’And that denial... he was protesting way too much.’

As soon as the handcuffs clicked on, the man panicked even more. His legs turned to jelly, and Shen Xin couldn’t even haul him to his feet.

The onlookers were startled, but now they were even more engrossed. Many had already pulled out their phones to record.

At this point, Li Jiahui started dialing 911.

Soon, officers from the Lankou Town Police Station arrived.

The officer in charge was named Zhou.

Shen Xin explained the situation. He’d already done some questioning himself while waiting for them to arrive.

The man still couldn’t give a clear story about where the Golden Retriever came from.

He stuck to his story that he’d found it.

But as for where he found it or how long he’d had it, he claimed not to know.

Combined with his attempt to flee, the situation was pretty clear.

’He’d likely just snatched it when he saw the opportunity.’

And dog theft is still theft.

A purebred dog like this isn’t cheap, so the value would easily be high enough for a significant charge.

That could genuinely lead to a prison sentence of up to three years, meaning he’d serve at least a year or two.

Shen Xin suggested, "Let’s check his car. We might find something."

When they checked his belongings earlier, they had found a car key.

’The car was probably in a nearby lot.’

Old Zhou had no objections and took the man to the parking lot.

It wasn’t far.

When they arrived, Old Zhou pressed the key fob. Farther ahead and to the right, a white Iveco van’s lights flashed.

The man didn’t resist.

’He probably figured there was nothing incriminating in the van.’

But as they walked over, Shen Xin glanced at the license plate and froze.

’If I’m not mistaken... this is the same Iveco from that secretly filmed video Yu Dalin showed me yesterday. The one they used to transport the dogs.’

’The license plate is a match.’

He pulled out his phone to check the saved video. That was it. The exact same license plate.

It had a Yanling plate and was the same model. The rear windows were painted white and it even had a Huolala sticker—all exactly like in the video.

Shen Xin gave the man a surprised look.

’Well, what a coincidence.’