Miami-Dade, FL - Police have arrested a suspect in connection with the theft of a baby monkey from a South Florida pet store that was captured on surveillance footage.
According to police, Robert's Pet Shop in Homestead had been caring for two 5-week-old marmoset monkeys, each valued at approximately $7,000.
However, one of the monkeys was stolen on Friday afternoon.
Store manager Lazaro Sardinas tells WPLG Local 10 News, "once we review the surveillance video camera, we see her coming over in, grabbing, tucking the monkey and just walking straight out the front door with it."
The store's surveillance video captured the woman, identified as 53-year-old Milena Wood, placing the monkey into a bag before quickly leaving the premises.
Sardinas says that Wood was a customer at the store for around 15 years, telling WPLG, "I would have never thought it would have been her."
Police say that Wood attempted to contact Sardinas over the weekend to arrange a deal for the return of the monkey.
Detectives were able to trace the phone number back to Wood, leading to her arrest on Monday.
Sardinas mentioned that the monkey has not yet been found, but authorities have evidence suggesting it may still be alive.
Wood faces three counts of grand theft, as she's also accused of stealing coral from two different aquarium stores along Bird Road on June 26th, with a total value of nearly $3,000.
Wood was released on bond on Tuesday afternoon but declined to provide information regarding the whereabouts of the monkey.