Ruh-Roh! Franklin police dog caught stealing from toy donation bin

FRANKLIN — The Franklin Police Department has been collecting toys for children ahead of the holidays for the Santa Foundation.

“We’ve has several officers that have worked very hard to make sure that some of the kids in town and the community that have needs will have something to open on Christmas,” said Franklin Police Deputy Chief James Mill.

When a couple of toys went missing, they quickly identified a suspect, and even caught him on camera in the act.

“When they saw him walking out of the classroom, they were like: ‘What is he doing?’" Mill said.

Officers recorded as Ben Franklin, their therapy Golden Retriever, tried to evade officers holding a stolen baby doll.

Officers pursued him and found evidence of past crimes.

“The facility is locked down so we knew it was pretty simple to figure out it was Ben,” Mill said. “When Ben saw the toys, he thought they all belonged to him."

It’s unlikely he will face charges. Rather than punish the accused thief, officers came up with a better idea.

“It was an easy solution. Ben here is now banned from this room. I mean, he’s gotten his slobber all over them at this point so the police department has replaced them,” Mill said.

Ben didn’t deny the crime. In fact, he seems quite proud of it.

“He has the run of the station and it’s amazing. It’s amazing. He’s like that guy who shows up to the party that everyone loves and seriously, if Ben walks in, it’s like a ray of sunshine,” Mill said.

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