Police in Poole are appealing for witnesses and
information following a burglary at a house in the Canford Heath
area of the town – with the offender wrapping sticky tape around a
dog’s mouth.
The incident, in which a man was discovered searching through a
house on Kelly Close, off Mitchell Road, happened at around 9.20am
on Tuesday, 3 November 2009.
It is believed that the offender entered through an insecure
back door.
Investigations Officer Helen Douthwaite, of Bournemouth and
Poole CID, said: "The
householder, a 39-year-old woman, had been upstairs in her bathroom
for approximately half an hour.
"When she came downstairs she was shocked to discover that her
pet dog had clear sticky tape wrapped around its mouth and that
there was a man in her lounge.
"This man immediately ran to the kitchen, grabbed hold of a
kitchen knife and held it aloft as he made his getaway through the
back door. He dropped the knife once he had escaped."
The burglar is white, aged in his late teens or early twenties,
around five feet six inches tall and of a stocky build.
He was wearing a black hooded top, a black scarf across his
face, dark tracksuit bottoms and dirty white trainers at the time
of the incident.
He left empty-handed.
Helen Douthwaite continued: "This is a very serious incident and
the victim was understandably shocked.
"I am appealing for anyone who witnessed any suspicious activity
along Kelly Close yesterday morning, and anyone with any
information about the man responsible, to contact me as soon as
possible."
Witnesses and anyone with information should contact
Dorset Police in confidence on 01202 222 222 or the free and
anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111 where mobile phone
tariffs may apply.