Watch: Moment West Midlands Police dog sniffs out a ‘car thief’ in a loft in Birmingham

Dramatic body-cam footage shows the moment a police dog sniffed out a suspected car thief hiding half-naked in a cramped loft.

The 26-year-old man was chased by officers after he rammed into one of their vehicles in a stolen BMW on Wednesday (August 3). The driver sped off before being pursued by traffic cops to Beeches Road in Oscott in Great Barr.

Police sniffer dog Romeo led officers to an address nearby where cannabis plants and a suspected firearm were recovered.

Body-worn camera footage then shows the hound leading its handler to a small attic space in one of the rooms. The officer opens the door to find the topless suspect cowering in the corner and cheerily says: "Hello mate!"

He warns "come here or the dog comes in" before handcuffing the man on the bedroom floor as he crawls from his hiding place.

The suspect, from Sutton Coldfield, was arrested on suspicion of possession of drugs, possession of a firearm and burglary. He was released on bail pending further enquiries.

Superintendent Jim Munro, of West Midlands Police, said: “Our officers are not only working to keep the thousands of people safe across the region who are attending CWG, but are still continuing to crack down on those committing crime in our region.

“Not only have we found and located a stolen car, but a potential lethal weapon and illegal drugs have also been found and taken off our streets.

“Catching thieves who target cars is one of our top priorities and yesterday’s work is just one of many examples of our commitment to finding those who may be responsible.”

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