Burglars steal rings and throw paint over pet dog

A man returned home from an evening out to find his home had been broken into and the intruders had stolen valuables and thrown paint over his dog.

Steven Paddock and his family left their home in Stratton, Gloucestershire, on Monday evening and returned hours later to find their patio doors smashed and valuables, including his wife's engagement and wedding rings, had been taken.

Paddock said the family's springer spaniel, Chip, had been abused by the burglars and "spent that night spooning with me and trembling".

Gloucestershire Police said it is investigating the incident, which is one of three burglaries reported in the area on Monday.

"The police feel their usual [modus operandi] is to ring the doorbell on a place where there's no cars present and no lights," Paddock said.

"If nobody or a dog doesn't make a lot of noise, then they head around the back and endeavour to get into your house.

"My dog was upstairs and hadn't barked, they then decided to abuse him while the others ransacked my wife's bedroom and the children's bedrooms and took away valuables."

Paddock said it was clear numerous windows had been tried by the burglars.

"The paint that they decided to hit my dog with, they opened up and poured all over him and the carpets and walls."

While Paddock said the family had been unable to get the paint off Chip, "he's returning to his slightly neurotic springer spaniel self".

Paddock is encouraging others to improve their home security.

"We didn't have an adequate, as it turns out, security system," he said.

"Even though it feels like an expense when stuff's gone and the now sort of emotional roller coaster we've all been on for a week, I think I'd rather have shelled out the money back in the day."

Police said officers had undertaken house-to-house and CCTV enquiries following the burglary and were trying to establish if the burglaries were linked.

A spokesperson said: "As the autumn months and darker nights approach, police are encouraging the public to consider installing a 'WIDE' combination of security devices as they can provide 49 times more protection against residential burglary."

A 'WIDE' combination includes window locks, indoor lights on timer switches, double door locks or deadbolts, and external lights on a sensor.