A dog helped the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department nab three serial burglars.

Major Greg Bolin says 18-year-old Michael Bowers worked with a 16-year-old boy and a 17-year-old boy to burglarize 22 homes in Jefferson, Grant, and Cleveland counties.  The three managed to evade authorities since their spree began in January.

Bolin says the trio stole a Pomeranian from a home in March.  Shortly after they stole the dog, they dumped it on Mail Route Road in Jefferson.  A passerby saw them dumping the dog and stopped to pick it up.  They were able to locate the owner because of the vaccination tags on its collar.  The passerby also gave the deputies a description of the car they were in.

Stolen jewelry that turned up at two pawnshops also lead investigators to Bowers and the teens.  The two boys' names are not being released because they are juveniles.

Bolin says if you've recently bought a gun "off the street" it may be stolen and you should check with the Sheriff's Department.

Bolin says the three are facing burglary and theft of property charges and could be linked to more break-ins.  He anticipates making two more arrests.