Published on ShanghaiDaily.com (http://www.shanghaidaily.com/)
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2008/200810/20081024/article_378041.htm
Careful felons: A dog might collar you
Created: 2008-10-24 1:57:21
Author:Dong Zhen
SHANGHAI criminals beware - the dog squad is on the case.
Trained German shepherds, with handlers, are being used by private security firms to patrol high-end residential complexes as property managers crack down on neighborhood crime, especially burglary.
The police force is also turning to the dogs for a range of needs that include sniffing out drugs and explosives and patrolling the streets.
The trend to use German shepherds, popular with overseas police forces, started in August, Sun Longgen, owner and operator of a leading private dog-training base in the city, told Shanghai Daily.
The retired People's Liberation Army officer has more than 30 years of professional dog-training experience. Sun's facility has established close ties with Shanghai police and become a major supplier of sniffer and special-duty dogs.
"In August during the Beijing Olympic Games period, sniffer dogs started to make frequent appearances at major public venues as security efforts were increased," he said. "That's when the managements of some residential complexes started to think about using professional dogs."
Some district police bureaus said they had started sending out police dogs to patrol with their trainers around spots that are frequently troubled by robbery and burglary.
Sun said his first order asking for a German shepherd to help with security patrols inside a residential complex came from the property management of Jinxiu Garden, a high-end downtown complex.
"After that, we have continued to receive contracts and the dogs are working really well," Sun said.
Dogs that are sent for service duties have all passed tough professional training and are authorized by city police. They usually patrol around residential complexes about noon as well as between 6pm and 7:30am the next day - when burglars and robbers are most active.
"A trained German shepherd will quickly find a burglar if he's still around in the complex, making it easy for security guards to track him down," Sun said.
The property managements for Changyang and Rongfeng residential complexes in Yangpu District said their recent introduction of the specially trained canine helpers had made the areas safer and they had noticed a drop in theft rates.
Trained German shepherds, with handlers, are being used by private security firms to patrol high-end residential complexes as property managers crack down on neighborhood crime, especially burglary.
The police force is also turning to the dogs for a range of needs that include sniffing out drugs and explosives and patrolling the streets.
The trend to use German shepherds, popular with overseas police forces, started in August, Sun Longgen, owner and operator of a leading private dog-training base in the city, told Shanghai Daily.
The retired People's Liberation Army officer has more than 30 years of professional dog-training experience. Sun's facility has established close ties with Shanghai police and become a major supplier of sniffer and special-duty dogs.
"In August during the Beijing Olympic Games period, sniffer dogs started to make frequent appearances at major public venues as security efforts were increased," he said. "That's when the managements of some residential complexes started to think about using professional dogs."
Some district police bureaus said they had started sending out police dogs to patrol with their trainers around spots that are frequently troubled by robbery and burglary.
Sun said his first order asking for a German shepherd to help with security patrols inside a residential complex came from the property management of Jinxiu Garden, a high-end downtown complex.
"After that, we have continued to receive contracts and the dogs are working really well," Sun said.
Dogs that are sent for service duties have all passed tough professional training and are authorized by city police. They usually patrol around residential complexes about noon as well as between 6pm and 7:30am the next day - when burglars and robbers are most active.
"A trained German shepherd will quickly find a burglar if he's still around in the complex, making it easy for security guards to track him down," Sun said.
The property managements for Changyang and Rongfeng residential complexes in Yangpu District said their recent introduction of the specially trained canine helpers had made the areas safer and they had noticed a drop in theft rates.
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