WAVELAND, Ind. — Residents of a small Indiana town believe a stray dog is behind a rash of shoe thefts.

Shoes left outdoors in the Montgomery County community of Waveland began disappearing one by one in June, reappearing near the town’s fire station.

Acting town marshal Rob Kiger and others have seen a stray brown and white dog, possibly a beagle, around town carrying a shoe in its mouth. Others have seen the dog lying in the sun near the fire station.

Susie Calvert, who works near the fire station, says she finds shoes in the area and places them on the ledge at the station, hoping that the owners will collect them.

Kiger says he’s tried to take the canine shoe bandit into custody, but it runs away every time he gets close.