YOUNG Zak the alsatian was a crime fighting hero this week.

The 7-month-old hound dog put the fear of God into a thief who had snatched a purse from an elderly lady in a Morecambe shop.

Zak and his owner, John Dickson, were involved in a high speed pursuit that began on Euston Road and ended up on Queen Street.

John said: "I was standing outside Home Bargains in Morecambe when a lass came running out with a lad running behind her. Next thing I knew, a lady came out shouting - She's got my purse!"

John and Zak immediately took up the trail with Zak barking like mad.

As they approached Queen Street, John shouted: "If you don't stop I'll let the dog off the lead."

The girl stopped immediately, flung the purse over to the other man and ran away.

John said: "I wasn't sure what the lad was doing. My instant reaction was to stay with the purse so I didn't chase after the girl. It turned out that the lad just wanted to get the purse back too."

He laughed: "The girl couldn't half run - I haven't been that worn out in ages."

When the purse was handed back to the lady, young Zak was rewarded with a nice big bone!

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