A would-be thief in Derbyshire England got more than he bargained for when he tried to escape police by squeezing through a fence onto farmland belonging to Heidi Price and Graham Oliver, only to find himself surrounded by eight crime-fighting llamas who refused to let him leave until officers arrived. The suspect had been fleeing after stealing from a woman last Monday evening when he cut through the couple’s property not realizing their six foot tall llamas do not like people entering their space after dark and take their guard duties very seriously. The fluffy enforcers galloped over and formed a perfect circle around him releasing their warning cry which sounds like an old man laughing while Graham’s dog barked at his feet.
Graham discovered the terrified suspect completely encircled by the protective animals and led him back to where police were waiting, with Heidi joking the llamas literally made a citizens arrest and wondering if they might receive recognition for their efforts. The eight rescue llamas were not always so confident as they came from a closing farm ten years ago but during the pandemic Heidi worked patiently with them until they became calm enough to handle and now serve as therapy animals supporting patients with mental health issues. Heidi noted the suspect’s fate could have been worse if he had ventured further where five huge bulls were grazing, explaining llamas were close to extinction before people recognized their incredible guard dog abilities.
Throughout the ordeal the well-mannered llamas never felt the need to spit and kept good manners even when faced with adversity, with Derbyshire Police confirming the man in his thirties was arrested on suspicion of theft and released on police bail.
