A TEENAGER suspected of involvement in several break-ins has been arrested after being sniffed out by a police dog.

The arrest came after police were called to investigate a series of burglaries in Drury Road, Colchester, including raids on a cycle shop, a tanning salon and other businesses.

Rio the police dog was put on the case and tracked the 16- year-old youth to the place he was hiding, a mile away.

Rio and his handler were called to the scene on Friday at 10.30pm. A police spokesman said: “Rio was called in to search the area and recovered a discarded bike and pair of gloves.

“Thirty minutes later, a boy of 16 was found in Midland Close, and arrested on suspicion of attempted burglary.”

He has been bailed while investigations continue.

Joan Mitchell, manager of All Tanned Up, said: “It’s absolutely fantastic to think police dogs can track someone down like that “The dogs are very intelligent and they must be very well trained. It is amazing.”

Of the attempted break-in, she added: “I don’t know if they kicked it in, or tried to use a crowbar, but they used so much force it broke the lock off and cracked the window.

“We have had to have it all boarded up and it’s going to cost hundreds of pounds to replace.”

MrsMitchell said the breakin also meant her insurance premiums would increase.

She added: “They don’t realise what it means when they do this. There were at least three boys. I don’t know what they were looking for, or what the point was.

“They need to realise what it means for people. It’s not very nice for this to happen to you. My husband and my son were here until 2am, then had to be here for the scenes of crime people and again for the door to be boarded up.”

Mrs Mitchell said she thought the intruders were scared off by the shop’s loud burglar alarm and praised neighbours who came out to help after it went off.

Anyone with information is asked to call Colchester police station, on 101.