Burglars shoot pit bull, steal 5 boats

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - Officials say suspects responsible for stealing five boats from a Norfolk boat dealership shot a pit bull who underwent emergency surgery Friday morning.

The pit bull's caretaker, John Farlow, was devastated when he realized she was hurt.

"I saw the blood everywhere. It starts about right in here at the (dumpster) and goes in her pen," Farlow said. "Then, comes out and goes back up to the building over there."

According to Chris Amos with the Norfolk Police Department, a call came in just before 7 a.m. Dec. 28 that boats tied to trailers had been stolen from the Norfolk Marine Company, 5221 East Virginia Beach Blvd.

Breezeway, an American pit bull, was guarding the compound at the time of the incident and was shot twice, according to Farlow. Amos said Breezeway was later found in the 5300 block of Piney Branch Circle.

The dog was brought to the BluePearl Veterinary Hospital in Virginia Beach and underwent emergency surgery to have the bullets removed, which will be sent to forensics for analysis.

"She lifted up her head and wagged her tail bless her heart and I just went up to her, apologized to her for somebody being such a miserable human to her," Farlow said.

Amos said the stolen boats stolen were a 21-foot Carolina Skiff and four 27-foot Seahunt boats. According to Farlow, the two suspects used two trucks to take the boats and came back to the dealership three times the evening of the larceny.

No suspect information is available at this time, but police have provided surveillance images of the suspect vehicle which are attached to this story.

"We've got eight cameras out back. We've got them on film. So, it's just a matter of time and that court day, I'll be there," Farlow said.

If you have any information on the incident, contact Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.