Llamas Corner Thief in Derbyshire Field Until Police Arrive

A thief running through a dark Derbyshire field got the surprise of his life when eight llamas decided he wasn't welcome on their turf.

The man had just stolen from a woman and squeezed through a fence onto farmland owned by Heidi Price and Graham Oliver last Monday evening. But instead of finding an easy escape route, he found himself surrounded by six-foot llamas that had galloped over to investigate.

The animals formed a circle around the terrified suspect and began releasing their distinctive warning cry, which sounds like an old man laughing. Graham heard the commotion and walked into the field with his dog to discover the llamas had effectively made a "citizen's arrest."

"Llamas don't like people entering their personal space after dusk," Heidi explained after arriving home to find police gathered on the road. The intruder looked absolutely terrified as the dog barked at his feet while the towering animals kept him trapped.

Graham led the suspect back across the field and over the fence, where police arrested the man in his 30s on suspicion of theft. Heidi joked that the situation could have been much worse if he'd ventured deeper into the field and encountered their five huge bulls instead.

Sunny's Take

These llamas weren't always so confident around humans. Heidi reluctantly rescued them 10 years ago when a farm closed down, and they initially weren't accustomed to being touched at all.

During Covid, she patiently worked with them until they became calm and confident. Now they serve as therapy animals supporting patients with mental health issues, and their work has even been published in the British Journal of Occupational Therapy.

"Their only defense mechanism is spitting," Heidi noted, adding that llamas were once close to extinction before people recognized their incredible guard abilities. "They kept good manners, even when faced with adversity."

The man was released on police bail, and Heidi wondered if her crime-fighting llamas might deserve some sort of recognition award for their heroic efforts.