A CLEVER dog from Yelverton became West Devon?s answer to Lassie when he received a special award for helping reduce crime.
The Devon and Cornwall Community Watch Association presented Oscar ? a seven-year-old Golden Retriever ? with a certificate and a packet of dog treats in honour of his contribution to crime prevention.
Oscar?s award related to an incident in which he alerted his owners to a car being abandoned by youths. The police were able to trace the culprits through a mobile phone left at the scene.
Oscar?s owner, Sally Hamilton, was among three neighbourhood watch co-ordinators from West Devon to receive recognition for their efforts in keeping crime figures low.
Sally, co-ordinator of the Golf Links Road Yelverton watch scheme, was awarded a certificate of commendation in the rural award section.
She also picked up a certificate of excellence and £250 worth of security products for winning the rural category.
Sally said: ?Oscar and I were absolutely thrilled to receive our awards.?
Ricky Paull, from Buckland Monachorum, scooped a certificate of commendation in the co-ordinator of the year section in recognition of 12 years of running the neighbourhood watch scheme in the village.
He said: ?It?s nice to be recognised. I?ve been doing it since 1991 and it gives me a great deal of pleasure and keeps my mind active. I feel I?m putting something into the community.?
Paul Drury, from Bere Alston, gained a
certificate of commendation in the rural award section, which he received earlier this month at the Safer Communities Convention.