Staff Report

Olivia Nicole Monreal

Megan Catherine Thatcher

PIERCETON — Two women were arrested after allegedly breaking into a Pierceton residence and stealing a dog.

Olivia Nicole Monreal, 28, 7135 E. 125S Apartment 6, Pierceton, is charged with burglary, a level 4 felony; battery against a public safety official, a level 6 felony; theft, a class A misdemeanor; and criminal mischief, a class B misdemeanor.

Megan Catherine Thatcher, 28, 1202 Wooster Road Lot 16, Winona Lake, is charged with burglary, a level 4 felony; theft, a class A misdemeanor; and theft with a prior conviction, a level 6 felony.

On Aug. 29, a Pierceton Police officer responded to a burglary report at a residence. A woman said she left her home for about six hours and noticed someone had broken into her home while she was gone.

According to court documents, the woman said one of her dogs had been taken from the home. She indicated Monreal recently contacted her about the dog and that she did not respond. The woman told police Monreal lived with Thatcher.

The officer noticed substantial damage to the residence’s door and door jamb.

The officer went to Thatcher’s residence and found a vehicle with dog hair on the seats that appeared to match the woman’s missing dog.

Thatcher and Monreal initially denied stealing the dog, but Monreal later admitted she had the dog, which was returned to its owner.

Thatcher said Monreal asked her to help remove the dog from the woman’s residence.

While being taken into custody by assisting Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office deputies, Monreal became belligerent and allegedly kicked and punched one of the deputies.

Thatcher was previously convicted of theft in Kosciusko County in 2016.

Monreal and Thatcher both have already been arrested and released on bond.