Praise for new South Yorkshire Police dog deployed in search for suspected lorry thief

New recruit Hudson was called upon to help track down a suspect just a week after completing his initial training.

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He was deployed on Sunday night after the driver of a stolen lorry was followed by traffic cops from the M18 onto White Rose Way in Doncaster.

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The lorry was abandoned by the driver, who jumped into some nearby water in a bid to avoid capture.

But police dog Hudson was sent off to track him down and led officers to the suspect.

South Yorkshire Police said: “Our new boy Hudson is off the mark with his first arrest.

“PD Hudson, with his handler, only hit the streets last week after completing initial training.

“Sunday saw a stolen lorry pursued by our roads policing colleagues on the M18, exiting onto White Rose Way.

“The lorry thief preferred his chances on foot, abandoning his stolen ride and legging it into the adjoining waterways up there.

“After some wading and a little swimming he decided to go to ground, or rather water. I think he might have watched one too many movies thinking he could hide neck deep in water amongst the reeds. Wrong!

“As Hudson knows well, you can’t escape your scent, and being wet actually makes it easier to find.

“It didn’t take his nose long to hone in on the waterlogged wrongdoer who, having run out of options, surrendered himself.”

A 31-year-old Rotherham man was arrested for vehicle theft and driving while disqualified.

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