Pub raided as sleeping dog fails to stir

A devastated licensee has vowed to step-up security after his guard dog slept through a burglary.

Raiders stole hundreds of pounds worth of alcohol, broke into a quiz machine and took charity money and staff tips from the Dartmouth Arms in Dartmouth, Devon.

And during the raid, which happened between 2am and 7am on Saturday, 11-year-old Doberman / Alsation cross Taz remained fast asleep.

Licensee Mark Keel said: "My dog is now traumatised and we're now putting in a burglar alarm.

"When he was younger, he'd wake up at anything, even people walking along the street outside."

The burglars forced open a window to get in and then stole mainly 1.5-litre pub-size bottles of vodka, brandy, gin, Jack Daniel's and Southern Comfort.

They also made off with an iPod Nano music player they found in the bar, along with a dishwasher tray which police believe they used to carry away their haul.

Mark believes the bottles of alcohol which have been stolen could be sold on to other pubs.

"They're mostly 1.5-litre bottles made for the pub trade," he said.

"The bottles are not made for public sale because the labels are on upside-down."

Mark added it was the first time he had experienced a burglary in 12 years at the pub.

"These things are very rare. Various properties around Dartmouth have been broken into so hopefully the perpetrator will be caught before it goes too far.

"We have now tightened security by more fitting locks. It's very shocking to find someone has been through your building."

Police have urged anyone with any information to get in touch with officers in Dartmouth.