Labrador Retriever Caught Retrieving Women’s Handbags

The career as a thief of Klaus, a 7-year-old Labrador retriever who fetched women’s handbags, was cut short by a German shepherd.

A Munich court Thursday gave Klaus’ master a year’s suspended sentence and ordered him to find Klaus a new home.

Klaus’ owner, who was identified only as Franz B., a 41-year-old unemployed computer technician, told the court that as a hobby he had taught Klaus to steal handbags.

He said he decided to make some money with the hobby when he quit his job because his ex-wife and their three children were taking two-thirds of his salary.

Police testified that Franz was arrested after Klaus grabbed the handbag of a 31-year-old woman identified as Liselotte G. outside a butcher’s shop and ran with it to a nearby park where Franz was hiding.

The robbery was foiled by the woman’s German shepherd. She let the dog off the leash, and it chased Klaus and cornered Franz.

The court said it would suspend a year’s prison sentence if Franz removed temptation by getting rid of his dog. Franz said he had already given Klaus to his former wife.