Dog needs home after owner goes to jail

ST. PETERSBURG (FOX 13) - Police have made an arrest in connection to dozens of burglaries in St. Pete, Gulfport, and Tampa, but one of the suspect’s victims is in need of immediate help.

Police say Lupen Font has been arrested for stealing guns and money, plus arson, and grand theft auto, but now that he’s in jail, his dog is in a shelter and without an owner.

The shelter hopes to make things right for what’s hopefully Font’s last alleged victim – Tomas the dog.

Police say Font was supposed to be taking care of a dog for a friend, who is also in jail. That dog, named Tomas, is now with Pinellas Animal Services and will be put up for adoption in seven days if the owner’s family doesn’t come forward.

The shelter says it has received interest from several potential adopters.

While Font was tasked with his friend's pooch, police say he was on a crime spree. He was finally caught while trying to break into a home in St. Petersburg Wednesday morning.

The homeowner shot at him during the attempted break-in Wednesday morning on Riverside Drive.
The homeowner, who was armed, chased, fired at, and caught Font as he was trying to get away.

Detectives say this is the second time Font broke into the same home. He's also suspected of stealing more than 20 guns on Sunday.