German Shepherd Puppy Helps Police Crack String of High-End Home Thefts

A German Shepherd puppy is being credited with helping police solve a string of break-ins in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia where hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and valuables were stolen from homes.

The puppy first caught investigators’ attention while they were reviewing security footage from a West Vancouver break-in that resulted in nearly $200,000 worth of cash and valuables being taken. In the video, police noticed a man walking the young German Shepherd in the neighborhood just days before the crime occurred.

Police then reached out to neighboring municipalities, including Coquitlam and Burnaby, which had also experienced recent break-ins. Investigators discovered a common thread in each case: a German Shepherd puppy had been spotted in the area a few days before the thefts.

“In 2019, West Vancouver experienced a series of break-and-enters targeting high-end residential properties,” West Vancouver Police Department wrote in a press release. “During the investigation, detectives noticed a consistent pattern: a man walking a German Shepherd puppy was regularly seen in the vicinity of the impacted homes in the days leading up to the break-ins.”

By working together, police departments identified a suspect living in Port Coquitlam. A search of the suspect’s home uncovered a large stash of stolen goods from the West Vancouver break-in, along with more than $93,000 in cash. Investigators also found a ledger containing the addresses of the targeted homes.

Police arrested 58-year-old Michael Horyn. Although the case took several years to move through provincial court, Horyn has now been convicted of two counts of break and enter and five counts of possession of stolen property. He is expected to be sentenced in provincial court in the coming weeks.

“This file highlights the power of pertinent and timely communication and coordination with our policing partners”, said Suzanne Birch, spokesperson for the West Vancouver Police Department. “Thieves should understand that working outside their own neighbourhood does not provide them cover – we are committed to working across jurisdictional boundaries to hold them accountable, no matter where they operate”.

Thieves may want to think twice before underestimating the power of a cute puppy.

West Vancouver Police also confirmed the dog has since been rehomed and is doing well, adding, “Not to worry, the pup was placed in a safe home!”

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