Tails are wagging across the UK as Spud is crowned ADT’s first-ever Pet Detective, after a nationwide recruitment drive.
Recent research revealed that over half (52%) of pet owners admit that their pet has been caught red-pawed, pilfering everything from underwear to cash. Costing the nation a whopping £305 million, man’s best friend can no longer be trusted.
So, to stop the swiping, the security experts at ADT enlisted Instagram superdog and reformed robber, Pumba the Chow Chow, (@ThingsOnPumba) to create and fill the newest position on the product innovation team – the Pet Detective. The candidate needed to have experience looting possessions and evading capture – after all, it takes a pilferer to know a pilferer!
Pumba’s full criteria included:
- Track record of being light-pawed
- Highly intelligent – comes up with ingenious ways to pilfer possessions
- Intrepid explorer – capable of venturing far and wide to find every nook and cranny
- Experienced at evading capture
- Full bag of swag
Top dog was Spud, the boxer from Thornton Cleveleys near Blackpool. With a track record of stealing everything from socks to ties, Spud is ready to put his bandit days behind him and help ADT catch other pet-ty criminals. Ever the master of disguise, Spud has even been caught red-pawed wearing an unconvincing wig and blazer, attempting to sneak off with his ill-gotten gains.
It seems the UK is full of pinching pets, as the role received over 150 applications, with filching felines, light-hooved horses and bird burglars all vying for the prize.
Lee Jasper, from ADT said: “As specialists in home security, we’re excited to expand our expertise to include pet thievery and Spud is just the dog to lead the way. As soon as we saw Spud’s application for the role, we knew he was the top dog for the job. His insider knowledge and understanding of how pets evade capture – and what they will target to add to their hoard – will help us learn about the security weak spots that the UK’s pets exploit.”
Diane, the owner of Spud said: “When we saw the job advertised, we knew that we had to enter Spud. He’s the perfect pooch for the job and we’re so proud that he has been chosen to fulfil the role of Pet Detective. He’s itching (and scratching) to get started and catch some pets in action.”
Spud will receive an ADT Smart Home System, a year’s free monitoring, a £500 voucher from Monster Pet Supplies and lots of belly rubs. In return, he will provide ADT with quarterly reports analysing the stealing tactics of pets and strategies to combat the UK’s animal larceny epidemic.
For more information about ADT’s Pet Detective campaign, visit www.adt.co.uk/petedetective.
