http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2017535.stm

Thursday, 30 May, 2002, 19:44 GMT 20:44 UK
Squirrel helps police crack case

The squirrel was rewarded with a handful of nuts

Police investigating a burglary in Bath had an unusual ally - in the form of a law-abiding grey squirrel.
Officers said that a squirrel near a burgled garage appeared to be beckoning them to follow by running off and checking continually that they were still behind.

The squirrel's trail led police to a tree, behind which were hidden the four boxes of stolen crockery and a box of LPs.

A spokeswoman for Avon and Somerset Police said the officers gave the squirrel a handful of nuts as a reward.

Tree climbing

She said officers were called to a garage at Twerton at 0120 BST, where they arrested a 29-year-old man on suspicion of burglary.

When they returned to the scene later that morning, the squirrel was sitting in front of the garage.

A police spokeswoman said: "The squirrel scampered down the path and kept stopping and looking at the officers to check they were behind.

"They followed it for about 100 yards before the squirrel climbed up a tree - and around the tree were these boxes of loot.

"We apprehended a burglar and recovered stolen goods with the help of a squirrel."