Police Dog Raya was able to follow the suspect’s trail
A police dog found a suspected burglar hiding in a North Belfast bush after following his scent it picked up from a piece of clothing.
Officers were called to a report of a burglary in the Alexandra Gardens area just after 9.20pm on Thursday, August 14, with the suspect fleeing from the property through a window and running off towards Somerton Road.
Police dog Raya and her handler were the first to arrive on the scene, with Raya using a piece of discarded clothing to pick up the scent of the suspect and track him to a nearby hedge.
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He was arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary with intent to commit unlawful damage, and remains in custody at this time.
Inspector Harrison, of Operational Support Department, said: “We received a report that a burglary was in progress at an unoccupied residential address in the Alexandra Gardens area of the city, just after 9.20pm on Thursday, 14th August. “Officers were immediately dispatched to the scene, and a dog handler was the first to arrive. The suspect, a masked man, made off through a window and towards Somerton Road. “It’s believed that the suspect discarded an item of clothing while doing so, and the police dog, Raya, was then able to follow a scent trail to a nearby hedge where a man was found to be hiding. “He was arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary with intent to commit unlawful damage, and remains in custody at this time.” Inspector Harrison continued: “Police dogs are an extremely valuable asset to our service, and are instrumental in detaining suspects and making arrests. They can follow a scent trail or identify a specific scent which is undetectable to humans – even developing technology can’t replicate these skills. “Our officers couldn’t carry out their duties to such a high standard without these dogs and they are an integral part of the police family.”
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