Theft: Main Street

A woman’s car was stolen from the 700 block of East Main Street on Saturday night, a Madison Police Department statement said.

The woman made plans to meet up with her husband and friends in downtown Madison at around
8 p.m., MPD spokesperson Joel DeSpain said. 

She left her dog in her car parked downtown with the windows cracked, the statement said. Friends later noticed the dog running down the street, which alerted them something might be wrong, according to the statement. 

The car, a 2003 Ford Focus, has problems starting up, which requires the woman to leave her keys in the ignition,
DeSpain said.

DeSpain said he had not heard any updates from the woman Monday as to whether or not the car
or dog have been found. DeSpain said he wanted to make sure this particular situation was released and gained attention in hope that the family is reunited with its dog.

The dog, Jed, is a 2-year-old Australian lab mix and was last seen wearing a red collar with no tags.

DeSpain said he presumes the car was not stolen for resale or for a joy ride, the two most common reasons
for stealing a car.

MPD alerts officers of all stolen cars in a pre-shift briefing and also alerts officers by radio during their shift, DeSpain said.

“Officers are definitely aware of [stolen vehicles] when they are on their shifts,” DeSpain
said.

During 2012, 260 car thefts were reported in Madison, he added.

DeSpain emphasized he wanted this case to garner attention because of the issue
of the missing dog.

Anyone with information should call the MPD non-emergency dispatch
line at 608-266-4948.