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Team takes a bite out of crime By Tim Whitnell METROLAND WEST MEDIA GROUP 15 · Friday, March 12, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com Halton Regional Police's newest crime-fighting duo has made its first arrest. Const. Matt Lawless and his partner, a police dog named Storm, tracked down a break-and-enter-and-theft suspect shortly after a Burlington business was broken into last month. On Feb. 11, shortly after 11 p.m., Halton police responded to a security alarm at RHI Canada Inc. on Fairview Street. A search around the outside of the building revealed that someone had scaled the fenced yard and entered the business through one of its doors. When a search for suspects inside the building turned up nothing the Halton police Dog Services Unit was called in. A hunt by Storm and Lawless located a man hiding in a grassy area some distance from the break-in. The suspect, a 28-year-old man of no fixed address, is charged with one count of break and enter and theft. Police allege that an undisclosed amount of money found on the suspect was taken during the break-in. The Burlington field capture was Storm and Lawless's first arrest on their third shift as a K-9 team. Since then they have helped in locating a stabbing victim NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER TEAMMATES: Constable Matt lawless and K9 Storm. in Milton and were unsuccessful in finding a copper wire theft suspect in Burlington. Lawless said he and Storm's shifts are irregular, a "series of days, nights and afternoons. It's all over the place." They are based out of Halton police headquarters in Oakville. When not on K-9 duty, Lawless and Storm do general patrol and assist other officers when needed. The pair also will appear at police functions and places like schools to educate the public about the canine service. When off duty, the team retreats to Lawless's Halton home. There, Storm has his own outdoor kennel. He is not an indoor dog and not a pet; Lawless has two pet pooches, one a Labrador and the other a cockapoo. They don't mix socially with Storm although his two domestic dogs will jump up on a backdoor screen to take a look at Storm in the backyard. "He stays in the backyard. We go for long walks and there's lots of playing with a ball. We walk the neighbourhood and I take him to parks where there won't be lots of people walking around," said Lawless. "He's still a big puppy and we have lots of fun. He's very, very strong." Not surprisingly, since he's a police dog, Storm is big, weighing 34 kilograms (76 lbs.). He was born and raised in Holland. At the age of 11 months, Storm joined Lawless at a canine training centre co-ordinated by Niagara Regional Police. "It was heavy duty, 14 weeks of training," said Lawless. The pair graduated in mid-January. Cottage season is just around the corner... the millionaire's Daughter As seen on CityLine sweet smoke Oakville's Best Kept Secret Lunch. Dinner. Take Out. Oakville's Best Barbecue · Burgers · Sandwiches · Barbecue · Salads · Pulled Pork · South Western Flavours · House Made Desserts Monday-Thursday 11am-9pm Friday & Saturday 11am-10pm BARBECUE AND GRILL 3420 REBECCA ST., UNIT 1 OAKVILLE, ON www.sweetsmoke.ca 905.465.0335