A police dog helped track down and arrest five suspects after offenders broke into a cannabis grow on a residential street.
Officers were called to Little John Drive, Rainworth, at around 3.30am on Sunday (16 February) following reports that a burglary was in progress.
When they arrived at the scene a short time later, officers spotted one man running from the property in the direction of South Avenue.
PD Russo and his handler pursued the suspect and recovered items of clothing that had been thrown over a wall.
Officers were informed that four further suspects had also fled.
A car was then spotted in nearby Python Hill Road, and PD Russo was again deployed to assist in detaining five men who were inside the vehicle.
When officers gained entry to the house on Little John Drive, they found more than 100 cannabis plants growing in upstairs bedrooms.
The property’s loft had also been converted to cultivate the Class B drug.
A machete was recovered after being found outside the address.
The weapon, as well as the crop and all the equipment used to power the grow, will now be destroyed.
Four men, aged 21, 22, 24, and 40, and a 17-year-old boy, were arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary.
Detective Sergeant Elina Falcon, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:
“This was an excellent example of police teamwork and information sharing between the force control room and teams of officers at the scene.
“It also highlighted once again what a well-trained police dog can achieve when paired with a highly skilled handler.
“We have said repeatedly that cannabis grows bring nothing but problems for communities, as they are a magnet for further crime and offenders who want to steal the highly valuable crop.
“Anyone who travels to the county to carry out offences of this nature can expect to be met with a robust response from the force.”
Anyone with any information about the incident should call the police on 101, quoting incident number 90 of 16 February 2025, or contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
