Reporters confront suspected dog thief after catching him on live TV — but his outrageous excuse left everyone speechless

Not every news coverage goes according to script, and that's often where the real story begins. A routine news report turned into a real-life rescue when a Boston news crew became the unintentional heroes in a dognapping case. The crew was on assignment in Cambridge, covering the story of a then 13-month-old German Shorthaired Pointer named Titus, who had been stolen from a parked vehicle. Little did they know, the suspect was just moments away from being caught, thanks to their quick thinking and sharp eyes.

As reported by WHDH, Titus was taken on Friday in May 2021 from a vehicle parked near Memorial Drive. Surveillance footage showed the dog walking across the Boston University Bridge with a man, later identified as Kyle Gariepy. Police issued a tweet about the theft on Saturday, May 8, sharing photos of the suspect and the dog. Later that afternoon, members of the channel crew, including anchor Juliana Mazza and photojournalist John Guice, arrived in the neighborhood to cover the case. While filming, the crew spotted the alleged suspect, Gariepy, walking Titus.

Mazza and her team decided to stop and speak with Gariepy. He explained that the situation was a “misunderstanding.” “He was just barking in the car, and I walked past the car, and I thought it was supposed to be a dog I was dog walking,” Gariepy told the crew. He denied the theft, claiming "it wasn't a kidnapping. It was just a simple mistake.” However, Mazza and her team didn’t buy his story. Suspecting something was off, they called the police to report the encounter.

Upon reviewing the surveillance footage, police confirmed that Gariepy matched the images of the man seen walking Titus. Gariepy was taken into custody and faced charges of larceny over $1,200 and breaking and entering into a vehicle with intent to commit a felony. As police took him into custody, Titus was returned to his rightful owner, Greg Siesczkiewicz, who was overwhelmed with emotion. “I’m just glad that the person came back and I’m just glad that you guys were there,” Siesczkiewicz told the outlet. “If anyone ever sees this, who questions the value of media, social media, broadcast media, this proves it."

The Cambridge Police Department praised the news crew for their quick action, which led to the suspect’s arrest and the dog’s return. While such chance encounters are rare, they highlight how the media and public can play a powerful role in helping. In another incident, a Chicago community came together to help Angel Santiago, a legally blind man, find his 14-year-old emotional support dog, Bam Bam, who went missing in June 2025. The story drew nationwide attention, with supporters raising over $10,000 through a GoFundMe campaign started by Amy Paslich and joining search efforts. After more than two months, Angel and Bam Bam were finally reunited in August, bringing a joyful end to the search.