Police dog sniffs out suspect after BMW is ditched on railway lines

A police dog tracked the suspected driver of a stolen car after it was abandoned on train tracks in Devon. Police dog Saka followed the scent and found a suspect.

The driver of the stolen car fled the scene. Saka found a suspect hiding in a garden shed, some distance from the abandoned vehicle, police said.

A BMW had reportedly been stolen in a late-night burglary in Devon ended up being ditched on train lines. The car caused major disruption for commuters yesterday, Monday, October 21, as services were cancelled while recovery took place.

The car is thought to have been taken from a property before it was pursued by an armed response vehicle (ARV) onto the railway line. The vehicle was then left on the train tracks between Exeter and Barnstaple.

Devon Police Dogs posted the update to social media. It said: "High-value vehicle stolen in an overnight burglary was pursued by ARV’s but deemed too risky when the vehicle drove onto and along the railway track before being dumped….

"Saka tracked from the car some distance, locating the driver hiding behind the shed of someone’s property."

DevonLive reported that the abandoned car caused major travel disruption yesterday morning. Train services between Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple were cancelled due to the blocked line.

Disruption continued through the mornings, affecting rush hour. The vehicle was eventually recovered by Network Rail at around 10am.