Dante Rowley and his fiancée were boarding a plane when the Ring camera alert arrived on their phone. A stranger was breaking into their home in Sherman Heights, climbing through a ladder to their second-story window near 20th and J streets. The Southern California couple watched it happen live through their security camera, helpless at 30,000 feet, as their worst nightmare started playing out on a screen.
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Then things got weird. Nash, their 4-year-old golden retriever, had one job that afternoon: sound the alarm and be the guard dog. But he had other plans. He treated the intruder like a long-lost friend, and the only thing the 90-pound golden dog wanted to do was play, ABC News reported.
Intruder breaks in and gets cosy
The video shows an intruder hopping into the compound, then using a ladder to break into the second-story window. The man didn't exactly skulk around. He removed his shoes and shirt, settled onto a bench in the foyer, and raided the refrigerator for yoghurt, turkey and cheese. Then he took a nap. For roughly 30 minutes, he made himself completely at home.
Then Nash showed up. The security footage shows Nash approaching the stranger, each time with a toy clenched in his mouth. The golden didn't even let out a warning bark. All the ‘guard dog’ did was offer toys and wag his tail. The intruder, to his credit, seemed bemused by the gesture. But Nash wasn't trying to be funny. He was genuinely convinced he'd met his new best friend.
Then the cops showed up
When police finally arrived, Nash's hospitality didn't waver. Officers found him at the door, tail wagging, toy still in his mouth, ready to extend the same warm welcome to anyone in uniform.
The burglar, on the other hand, made a run for it. He attempted an escape through a bathroom window, only to find officers waiting in the backyard. He was arrested without much fuss.
The suspect faced burglary charges, along with other outstanding warrants from unrelated incidents, according to NBC7. But Rowley surprised many with his response. Rather than dwell on the violation or anger, he expressed hope the man would get help. “We just hope he gets some help, honestly,” he told the outlet.
