WATCH - When Robyn met Robyn: Police pup named after brave schoolgirl who chased away burglar
A puppy born into the West Midlands Police dog training scheme has been named in honour of a brave schoolgirl who chased a burglar from her home.
And if German Shepherd Robyn - who is just three weeks old - grows up to be as fearless as schoolgirl Robyn then criminals had better watch out.
Eleven-year-old Robyn Birdsell and her family, from Birmingham, were treated to a VIP tour around the force’s police dog breed and training scheme in Balsall Common where they saw the four-legged crime fighters in action − and got to meet some of the newest recruits.
New mother Hatty gave birth to the latest litter - four boys and two girls - at the Dog Unit on January 13 and will stay with mum there until heading out to some of the force’s volunteer puppy walkers to help with their socialisation and basic training.
And after careful consideration and cuddling Robyn, a pupil at Town Junior School in Sutton Coldfield, picked her favourite pup.
She said: "They were all so cute it was difficult to choose. And being called Robyn I guess I could have picked a boy or girl.
Awards ceremony
“This one came straight over to me, though, and looked very comfortable snuggling on my lap so I decided to pick her. Now I’ve named one Robyn there should really be a ‘Batman’ in the litter!
“The police have said I can keep popping back to see how she’s getting on … I think she’ll be a brilliant police dog."
Robyn starred at an awards ceremony last month when she received a Chief Constable’s Young Person accolade from West Midlands Police’s top cop in recognition of her actions on 20 June last year when she tackled a burglar at their Sutton home.
The 31-year-old burglar, a prolific thief with a string of convictions, ran off clutching Robyn’s bag full of valuables − but what he hadn’t counted on was the plucky youngster running after him shouting “give us our stuff back!".
She grabbed his leg in a bid to stop him escaping over a garden fence. He struggled free but Robyn had the last laugh as her evidence and detailed description of the offender helped detectives trace him and secure a jail term of almost four years.
West Midlands Police’s breed scheme manager Dave Raymond said: “I’m sure pup Robyn will do Robyn proud. Around 90 per cent of the dogs we train are successes and go on to become operational police dogs.
“They play a really important role keeping the public safe, catching criminals and uncovering vital evidence."
