An intruder armed with a knife met an unexpected adversary when a pet dog exposed his hiding place in an Adelaide backyard. The dramatic scene unfolded in the early hours on Brown Hill Creek Road in Mitcham, following a police alert about suspicious activity in the area.

Residents were roused from their sleep shortly after 2:30 a.m. by reports of trespassers attempting to pilfer bicycles. Reacting swiftly, the homeowner confronted the intruders, chasing them down the street with a baseball bat, as a neighbor recounted.

In a bid to escape, one suspect leaped over a fence into a neighboring yard. However, his attempted getaway was thwarted by Nora, a vigilant eight-year-old beagle, who sniffed out the trespasser’s hiding spot.

Authorities arrived promptly and apprehended the suspect, discovering he was carrying a large knife. Thanks to the quick thinking of the homeowner and the keen senses of Nora, the situation was resolved without further incident.

One of the suspects then jumped the fence into another backyard, where he was found by Nora, an eight-year-old beagle. 

Police arrested the man, who they found in possession of a large knife. 

“There has been break-ins over the years over here but this is the first time I’ve been aware of someone being armed and threatening,” another neighbour said.

The arrested man, 40, has been charged with multiple offences, including carrying an offensive weapon. His accomplice remains on the run.