A family on 13th Avenue called police to say they were being held captive by a mean-looking pitbull.

The family said the dog had been on the front porch for three hours.

Whenever anyone tried to leave, the dog would show its teeth and bark.

The family said they had repeatedly called the McKamey Animal Center for help. A police officer had the police dispatcher try to get through to the animal center.

Meanwhile, the family was able to hand some meat to the officer and he used it to lure the pitbull to his patrol car. When the dog jumped in the back, he quickly slammed the door.

McKamey officers then arrived and collared the fierce dog. Neighbors said they do not know where the dog came from.

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Dorris Cagkier of Taylor Street said he and his wife heard a thump outside.

They saw that the door was open and the trunk up on their 2002 Saturn.

A thief had knocked out a window, gotten access to the trunk and stolen a yellow tool box with $300 in tools. The Craftsmen tools were marked DC. A yellow floor jack was also taken.

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A couple from Fairview Road got back from a week-long trip and found the basement door open.

Jeanne and Dennis Brice said a screen door had been cut. A jewelry case upstairs was taken along with three gold rings worth about $1,000 each. Mr. Brice also lost a UTEP class ring from 1972 and a gold ring that had belonged to his father.

* * *

Someone broke into the House of Refuge on W. 53rd Street.

The front door to the halfway house was pried open.

It was ransacked and $5 in change was taken, Alfred Johnson reported.

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Someone also pried open the front door to Jones-Blair Paint on Riverfront Parkway.

Several offices were ransacked and a number of items taken.

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Rachael Willis said her 2001 Ford Mustang was entered while she was out walking at Greenway Farm in Hixson.

Someone broke the front driver side window and took her purse, which contained ID, cash and credit cards.

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Peyton West of Beck Avenue had his basement door pried open.

He is missing a $500 Pelican box that contained $1,500 in tools as well as a $250 Back River machete.

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A woman on 15th Avenue came home to find her living room TV missing.

Also gone was her 52" bedroom television set.