Crime-fighting llamas corner thief until cops arrive

By Wiktoria Wrzyszcz

A would-be thief was caught by police after a hero herd of llamas cornered the suspect in a field until officers could arrive.

Heidi Price and Graham Oliver were alerted to the intruder on their farmland when the animals began making a loud alarm call on Monday evening, Feb. 2.

Moments earlier, the crook had stolen tobacco from a woman before he decided to jumped over a fence into the farm off Carnfield Hall in South Normanton, Derbys. in a bid to flee from police officers.

But his escape did not go to plan after eight llamas galloped over to him as he was running through the field in the dark and surrounded him.

Their warning cry alerted stunned farm owners Heidi and Graham who then discovered the crime-fighting llamas had made a "citizens arrest."

Graham went outdoors to find the "terrified" suspect circled by the 6ft animals before police arrived on the scene and arrested him.

Heidi said: “This was after dusk and an offender who just escaped police jumped over the fence into our farm.

"He had a torch with him, and he was running across the field.

"We've got eight llamas and llamas don't like people entering their personal space after dusk.

"Our llamas galloped over to him and surrounded him.

"They literally made a circle around him, and then started releasing their warning cry, which sounds like an old man laughing.

"This alerted my partner, who ran out of the house with the dog.

"He saw the man surrounded by llamas in the middle of the field. He didn’t know what to do next and looked absolutely terrified.

"The dog got really vocal around the man’s feet, and he was scared of the dog as well.

"My partner led him back across the field, to where he's come from, and back over the fence where the police arrested him.

"If it hadn't been to the llamas making their citizens arrest, this guy would have got away. I’m really proud of my llamas.

"When all this was happening, they didn't spit onto anyone so they good kept manners, even when faced with adversity.”

The llamas narrowly escaped death about 10 years ago when Heidi rescued them from a farm, which was closing down.

Heidi, who has lived at Carnfield Hall since 2011, said: “We literally had no clue about llamas.

"When someone asked us to rescue them, we said no at first.

"But when we were told that they were going to be euthanised if we don’t help them, we agreed to have them for an interim period while they were rehomed.

"Then we realised that nobody was actually looking for llamas and they have stayed with us.

"When we rescued them, they weren't used to being touched by people at all.

"Since getting them, I’ve done a lot of research and I became a member of British Llama Society.

"During Covid, I worked with them quite extensively so that we could handle them.”

Thanks to Heidi’s support and patience, the llamas are now confident with people and work as therapy llamas supporting patients with mental health issues.

Heidi’s therapy has been published in the British Lama society magazine, and also in the British Journal of Occupational Therapy.

Heidi said: “I designed a therapy programme with llamas, which has been officially recognised.

"The llamas work with patients in secure units as well as patients who live at home and have a community mental health team supporting them.

"Llamas are really interesting animals. They have been around for millions of years, and their only defence mechanism is spitting, and yet they have survived.

"And yet they were close to extinction before it was recognized that they have these incredible guard dog abilities and people started using them again to guard sheep and chickens and they become more popular again.

"They are incredible animals.”

Derbyshire Police confirmed that a man was arrested at the scene and later released on police bail.

A force spokesperson said: "We were called to reports of a woman having a number of packets of tobacco stolen from her in Mansfield Road, South Normanton, at around 6pm on 2 February.

“The suspect was seen to head off towards to woodland off Carnfield Hill. Officers attended the area and were approached by a member of the public who explained that someone was in their field.

“A man in his 30s was arrested in suspicion of theft and has been released on police bail.”