Thief warned to return puppy stolen from OAP

Family say they have traced the culprit and will expose him if pet is not handed back

Volunteers claim to have traced the man who stole a frail pensioner’s beloved dog.

As we reported, Leonard Ormond, 82, watched helplessly earlier this month as a van drove past his house on Napier Drive and took Rosco, a border terrier, from the garden.

The eight-month-old pup had been a birthday present from his son Gordon and was with the pensioner night and day, keeping him company.

An appeal for information has since been shared 1.3 million times and Leonard has appeared on national television.

Now, family members and volunteers insist they have pulled together information which has all but identified the man behind the apparent abduction.

One family member revealed the group believe they have CCTV images from the man and his family as well as licence plate information from the van involved in the theft.

They also claim the alleged thief previously stole a dog from a home in the Oxfordshire area before losing him.

The group is now warning the man they suspect of carrying out the raid to return Rosco safe and well before they publicise more information.

The family member, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “We have been everywhere tracing this. I think Rosco was taken either as a pet or to be sold on.

“We believe the man involved is based in England and this is a last-ditch attempt to let him know that we know.

“We want to make it too much effort for the person who has Rosco to keep a hold of him. We have nothing left to lose.”

Leonard’s family have been blown away by the level of support they have received from the community.

Such has been the public determination to reunite Leonard with Rosco that locals have stumped up £1,100 as a reward for his return.

The family member added: “If we had accepted all the money which has been offered we would have thousands and thousands of pounds on offer.

“It’s horrible for it to happen to any dog, but we got Rosco for Leonard to try to boost him up a bit.

“He’s absolutely gutted, but has been on TV appealing for information on what happened. He’s a very private man, so if you know him, that’s a massive thing for him to do.”

Police are asking anyone with information to phone them on 101 or the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

A spokesperson added :“Police Scotland is following positive lines of inquiry and the response from the public has been extremely helpful.” jmilligan@thecourier.co.uk

Picture: Dougie Nicolson. Leonard has made an appeal on television for the return of his beloved border terrier.