Gainesville woman arrested in dog, car theft in Hall County

A Gainesville woman is now facing charges in a case involving a stolen car with a pet dog inside.
 
Deborah Louise Whitehead, 47, faces charges of felony theft by taking, misdemeanor theft by taking and second degree burglary. She turned herself in to face charges Thursday and was booked into the Hall County Jail; her bond was set at $18,000, according to a release from the Hall County Sheriff's Office.
 
The incident in question happened Sunday, June 17 at a home in the 4500 block of Union Place. Investigators said in the release that Whitehead stole a Hyundai Elantra from the driveway, with the victim's pet dog inside. The dog was left in the running vehicle as the owner went inside briefly.
 
Later in the investigation, investigators discovered an unoccupied home nearby in the 4400 block of Union Church Road had been burglarized during the same time frame as the other incident.
 
Prior to the dog and car theft, investigators believe Whitehead parked her own car at the unoccupied home around the evening of June 16 or early June 17, entered it by breaking a window and left the house on foot, eventually stealing the Hyundai.
 
Whitehead, the dog and the car were located at a hotel by Braselton Police early in the morning of June 18. She was taken to the Northeast Georgia Medical Center while the dog was reunited with its owner, along with the car.
 
Investigators said there were no ties between any of the victims and Whitehead. The motive in the crimes is not known.