A POLICE dog helped catch a suspected thief after finding stolen items hidden in a bush.

Police were called to a home in Worthing Road, Southwater, at 2.30 am on August 10 after a homeowner spotted that the security light on his driveway had been set off.

A suspect reportedly wearing a balaclava fled the area after being confronted.

PC Jamie Jackson from Surrey and Sussex Police’s Dog Unit attended and stopped the man nearby.

He saw the suspect discard items in a bush and instructed German Shepherd Phantom to try and recover the stolen goods.

PC Jackson said: “On arrival to the area I saw a man walking towards me who matched the description we were looking for.

“When he saw my police vehicle I saw him throw something towards the shrub line at the edge of the pavement. I couldn’t see what it was other than it was small enough to fit into a hand.

“I stopped and searched him, finding lots of loose change and a black face mask. He was then watched by a local unit so I could be free to launch a search with Phantom.

“One of Phantom’s skills is finding items and property that has recent human scent on. The item that was thrown had obviously just been handled so I tasked Phantom to search the shrub line.

“After a short search Phantom indicated to me that he had found items. There were two bank cards and these were not in the suspect’s name so he was subsequently arrested for theft.”

A search found the suspect, a 42-year-old local man, was in breach of a court order not to be in driveways or to be in possession of bank cards.

He was also arrested on suspicion of multiple thefts from vehicles in the area.

The suspect has since been released under investigation.

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