Stolen puppy rescued after rightful owner TRICKS thief by posing as potential buyer
A STOLEN puppy was rescued by its owners after they spotted it for sale on Gumtree - and tricked the thief by posing as potential buyers.
A stolen puppy was rescued by its owners after it was found for sale on Gumtree
Ten-year-old Zoe Picken was devastated when her new pet American Akita Rosco escaped from the garden on January 9.
Despite Zoe and her family scouring the local area near their home in West Bromwich, West Midlands, there was no sign of their 11-week-old pup.
Two days later a family friend spotted a picture of Rosco on Gumtree so Zoe's mother Katherine decided to set a trap.
She got in touch with the seller and pretended to be interested in buying the dog and arranged to meet.
But instead of Ms Picken turning up for the viewing, police officers arrived at the bogus seller's home and arrested a 28-year-old man on suspicion of theft.
Zoe Picken was devastated when her new pet American Akita Rosco escaped from the garden
The pup's microchip confirmed his identity and he was reunited with Zoe and her family.
The thief, with no previous convictions, admitted theft after finding Rosco in the street and agreed to take part in a community resolution that will see him apologise to the family.
Two days later a family friend spotted a picture of Rosco on Gumtree
Zoe was heartbroken, we'd only had Rosco for about four weeks
Ms Picken said a friend alerted her to Rosco's photograph on the buying and selling website.
She said: "Zoe was heartbroken, we'd only had Rosco for about four weeks but they'd already struck up a real bond. We were worried he'd been hit by a car or stolen.
"On Wednesday a friend got in touch saying they thought they'd seen his photo in a sales advert on Gumtree.
"We made out we were interested buyers and arranged to go and see the dog, but it was just to give us enough time to contact the police.
The thief admitted theft after finding Rosco in the street
"They went over that afternoon and brought Rosco back, we're over the moon to have him home. Zoe hasn't stopped smiling since."
Sergeant Stephen Knight, of West Midlands Police, used a microchip detection device to confirm that the dog being offered for sale was Rosco.
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He said: "I retire this week after 30 years in policing so it's fantastic to finish on a high.
"The look on Zoe's face now that she's got Rosco back was great to see and being able to help like this is exactly why I joined the force."