People in Waveland, Ind., say a string of bizarre shoe thefts are being blamed on a beagle believed to be taking the shoes to a local fire station.

Angie Jeffers said one of her son's shoes disappeared after being left outside overnight and soon turned up near the firehouse, WLFI-TV in Lafayette, Ind., reported Wednesday.

Locals said shoes began arriving at the fire department in June and since then only Jeffers and one other person have reported seeing the thief -- a small beagle.

He's a little beagle dog, said Jeffers. He was laying there in the sun on the ramp, where the firetrucks come out, with a shoe beside him.

Acting town marshal Rob Kiger said he also spotted the beagle, who is believed to be a stray, carrying a tennis shoe in his mouth and another curious item on his head.

The shoe bandit beagle came out of the alley and down this street, with a pair of women's underwear on his head, said Kiger. He turned down the street and headed for the fire department.

Officials said the dog, who takes only one shoe at a time and never leaves any bite marks on the items, has proven difficult to capture.

Can't catch him, Kiger said. A lot of people have tried. But nobody can catch him.

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