Portland police arrested a 36-year-old Portland man Thursday and accused him of stealing a puppy from the

earlier this month.

Brent A. Klausner was taken into custody at his workplace in Aloha and booked into the Justice Center Jail on accusations of attempted first degree theft and third degree criminal mischief. He was released on his own recognizance.

Sgt. Pete Simpson, a spokesman for the Portland Police Bureau, said officers were called to the humane society on January 14 when an employee told them that Klausner broke a lock on a cage, grabbed a terrier mix puppy named Burkhead and tried to leave the shelter.

The employee told police that Klausner hid the puppy in his coat but was stopped when he tried to leave; he gave the puppy back and hurried away.

“This guy was brazen, breaking the lock on the front of the kennel,’’ said David Lytle, a humane society spokesman. “Our staff asked him why he had a puppy in his pocket.”

Police spoke with Klausner a few blocks away but did not arrest him, Simpson said. After consulting with the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office and more investigation, they arrested Klausner.

In December,

just before it was about to be adopted. That pup, named John, was returned to the shelter and adopted on Christmas day. Society officials upgraded their security measures as a result of that theft.

Burkhead was adopted the very same day the attempted theft took place, Lytle said.

“We’re glad the two dogs that were taken were returned,” Lytle said. “We’re two for two.”