A homeless man was arrested for theft and cautioned after a dog was stolen from outside Asda in Brighton Marina.
Rescue dog Bootsie, who was taken on Thursday evening, has now been reunited with her owner after she was spotted with a man near Dukes Mound the following day.
On Sunday, a 45-year-old man of no fixed address was given words of advice and accepted a formal caution.
A police spokeswoman said: “A watchful member of the public spotted Bootsie, a Patterdale Terrier, with a man at the Esplanade, near Dukes Mound, on Friday afternoon (1 June).
“A staff member from Asda in Marina Square, the supermarket Bootsie was tied up outside, went to this area on his lunch break and was able to locate the pet.
“Bootsie was reunited with her owner unharmed.
“A 45-year-old man of no fixed address was arrested on suspicion of theft. He was given words of advice and accepted a formal caution.”