Family dog thwarts Tumalo burglar
(Update: Adding street, correcting police agency)
Early Wednesday morning, a home invasion in Tumalo was stopped in its tracks by a family dog. The Pena family said it was saved by its keeshond, Sasha.
According to Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies, at about 4 a.m., Stefan Pena’s neighbor, Michael Rupp, opened Pena’s wife’s car door, which was unlocked, reached inside and hit the garage door opener button at a home in the 65000 block of Riverview Avenue.
That’s when Sasha started barking and woke up the family. Rupp was scared off and ran back to his car, which he drove to his home, not far away, where he was later arrested.
“It could’ve been a lot worse if they got into the house,” Pena said later. “I have my daughter. My wife’s pregnant. Nobody wants that. I would’ve been sound asleep, and he could’ve possibly been standing over my bed. That wouldn’t have been good for him.”
Pena said he was surprised by Sasha’s reaction, but is thankful nonetheless.
“She’s just a good, friendly dog,” Pena said. “She doesn’t really get too crazy, ever. But this morning, it was, like, ‘Get up! Get over here now!’ I thought she was tearing someone apart. It was that vicious. I’ve never seen her do that in 4 1/2 years.”
Rupp was booked into jail on charges of burglary, trespassing and unlawful entry into a motor vehicle.
It’s not the first time Rupp has run into trouble breaking into private property. In 2013, he was booked on 11 theft charges and nine burglary charges, as well as methamphetamine possession. He pleaded guilty to five charges in early 2014 and served prison time.
