Jaxon was in the vehicle when Carla Lepp's jeep was stolen on Nov. 26. (Facebook/ Carla Lepp)

By Nigel Maxwell

Crime

Sask. family pleads for safe return of dog after vehicle theft

Dec 2, 2024 | 5:00 PM

Carla Lepp says she cannot begin to fathom how someone could get into a stranger’s vehicle and take off with somebody’s pet.

But that’s exactly what happened in Watson on Nov. 26. Carla and her husband had parked at the Co-op grocery store and ran inside to get a few items. The vehicle was left running with the doors unlocked.

“When we came out, the car was gone like literally gone,” Carla told paNOW.

The reason why the vehicle had been left running was the couple’s black labrador “Jaxon” was sitting in the back and the couple only had one key. Prior to leaving their home in Quill Lake, the vehicle also required a boost to get started, and there was a concern if they turned it off again, they would not be able to get it going again.

The store’s security camera showed a man in the parking lot checking door handles, and he had also been in the store about 30 minutes prior buying doughnuts.

Also inside article: Howe heading to World Jr Camp

Raiders record does full 180 turn heading into matchup with Red Deer

49m ago

Martial Arts

North Wake students excel at TKD Western Canadian championship

1h ago

honour

NLSD receives provincial award for Indigenization efforts

1h ago

“It was literally two minutes after we got out of the vehicle, if that,” Carla recalled.

The stolen vehicle is a dark blue Jeep Compass with blue headlights and license plate 343 MWW. Carla left her phone in the car, and asked police if she could just track it.

“The answer we got to that is criminals have rights so no so they can’t track my phone”

Two days later, the phone was found in the ditch outside Watson.

Fast forward to Nov. 30, and a dog matchingJaxon’s description was seen in Prince Albert’s river bank area. There’s also been sightings near Prince Albert’s Queen Mary school.

“I got a picture blown up and I compared with another picture we have of him. It really, really looks like our Jaxon,” she said.

This picture was taken on Nov. 30. (Facebook/ Carla Lepp)

A man who saw the couple’s story has posted a $2,000 reward. Carla acknowledged she’s never met the man.

“He’s doing this out of the kindness of his heart,” she said.

Thomas Ripley lives in Lake Lenore, which is about an hour’s drive from Quill Lake. He explained to paNOW how on Nov. 30, his own truck was stolen from his shop and it was just by the sheer luck his dogs were not in the vehicle.

“I would’ve lost my dogs that night as well so I know what it’d be like. It would be devastating for my wife and I have our dogs gone missing and you know, Carlie lost the Jeep but she also lost a family member. That’s that’s why we decided to do it. It was just the right thing to do,” he said.

“We can always replace a vehicle but to replace a pet or a family member you know that’s not possible.”

When paNOW reached out to RCMP for comment, they confirmed that on November 26, at approximately 2:30 p.m., Humboldt RCMP received a report of a vehicle theft in Watson.

“Officers continue working to locate the vehicle,” they said.

Anyone who may have seen the Jeep or has information about this file, is encouraged to call RCMP or Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers.

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell