A POLICE dog helped find a burglar in a pets store.
Sussex Police said the “temptation of toys, treats and other treasures” did not distract PD Kola from helping catch the Pets at Home intruder last Sunday.
Police were alerted to a break-in in Jane Murray Way, Burgess Hill, after the intruder alarm was activated.
The crime-fighting canine’s handler, PC Will Hewson, discovered part of the glass front door was shattered.
When the pair approached the back of the store, they spotted a man wearing all black clothing, including gloves and a balaclava.
The suspect started to run, so PC Hewson shouted to make him aware of his presence and the deployment of PD Kola.
Shortly afterwards, the man emerged from the aisle where the rabbit enclosures are and gave himself up.
Phillip Johnstone, 47, unemployed, of no fixed address, was then arrested.
Johnstone plead guilty to burglary with intent to steal Crawley Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
He was sentenced to a 12-month community order, requiring him to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work, and made to pay £85 costs and a £85 victim surcharge.
PC Hewson said: “Like all Sussex Police general purpose dogs, PD Kola is fully qualified to carry out a number of tasks, including tracking and searching for criminals.
“Conditions such as weather, the environment and distractions all come with their challenges, however these highly intelligent dogs are trained to excel in such circumstances.
“Thankfully on this occasion the defendant complied with my commands and gave himself up, avoiding the necessity of a close-up encounter with Kola.”
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