A MAN who attempted to steal a Yorkshire terrier from a home on Harrison Drive was stopped by a local resident who caught him in the act. Melissa Pearce also managed to snap a photo of the man who was wearing a sun hat, and was able to prevent him from taking the dog.

In a Facebook post on the Durban North Neighbours page, Pearce said the dog had been handed over to Ashburne Vet.

“The man had stolen a brown female yorkie. I was able to retrieve the dog from the man after declaring her as my own; however, he initially refused to hand her over without receiving money or food. She has now been safely handed to Ashburne Vet. At 1.15pm I saw the man still loitering on Harrison Drive and reported the incident to a nearby Marshall Security vehicle and pointed out where the man was so he could be monitored,” she said

Her post has already garnered attention, with many residents expressing their anger over the ordeal. Marshall Security’s Kyle van Reenen said this was the first incident of its kind that he had been alerted to.

“We’ve had no cases reported but we have made our security patrol vehicles aware and to be on the look-out. I urge homeowners to keep their gates locked and homes secure and also to be vigilant,” he said.

In April 2014, a Durban North family was reunited with their Yorkshire terrier, which had been stolen from their home on Savell Avenue.