Newark police search for female dognapper

NEWARK, N.J. — Authorities have issued an arrest warrant for a Newark woman accused of stealing a dog during a burglary on Saturday, January 18, 2025, Newark Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda Sr. announced Wednesday.

Hymifah Richardson, 44, is wanted in connection with an incident that occurred at approximately 3:30 p.m. in the 100 block of Norfolk Street. The victim reported letting her Shih Tzu poodle mix out to roam in the front yard when the dog failed to return. Surveillance footage later showed a woman taking the dog and walking south on Norfolk Street, police said.

Detectives identified Richardson as the suspect in the burglary, describing her as 5’5” tall and weighing 200 pounds. She is facing charges of burglary, theft, and harassment.

Director Miranda is asking anyone with information about Richardson’s whereabouts to contact the Newark Police Division’s 24-hour Crime Stopper tip line at 1-877-NWK-TIPS (1-877-695-8477).

Tips submitted through Crime Stoppers are confidential, and rewards may be offered for information leading to her arrest.

Shore News Network Staff Report Latest posts

Shore News Network Staff Report is the official newsroom byline used by Shore News Network when a story is produced through the collaborative work of multiple members of the editorial team rather than a single reporter.

This newsroom account is reserved for articles that involve contributions from multiple journalists, editors, photographers, researchers, or news desk staff. It is also used for developing stories that are updated as new verified information becomes available, as well as for community announcements, weather coverage, public safety alerts, election results, and other newsroom-produced content.

Every article published under the Shore News Network Staff Report byline is reviewed and edited in accordance with the organization's editorial standards for accuracy, fairness, attribution, and transparency. Information is verified through official government agencies, court records, law enforcement, public documents, direct reporting, interviews, and other reliable primary and secondary sources before publication whenever possible.

The Staff Report account does not use artificial intelligence to independently generate news or publish unverified information. AI-assisted tools may occasionally be used for editorial support tasks such as transcription, formatting, grammar review, or workflow efficiency, but all published content is subject to human editorial oversight and approval by Shore News Network's newsroom staff.

As an independently owned digital news organization, Shore News Network is committed to original reporting, public safety journalism, government accountability, local community coverage, and breaking news throughout New Jersey and surrounding regions. Stories published under the Staff Report byline reflect the collective experience and editorial judgment of the Shore News Network newsroom.

Readers who have corrections, additional information, or news tips related to a Staff Report article are encouraged to contact the newsroom at news@shorenewsnetwork.com. Shore News Network welcomes factual corrections and updates as part of its commitment to accurate, transparent journalism.