See Spot run … circles around these bandits!
A Virginia home invasion victim outsmarted two armed thieves by stealing their getaway car — while his loyal dog distracted them by howling his head off, authorities said.
The pooch went barking mad after James Davis Kennedy, 41, and an unidentified accomplice disguised as a utility worker conned their way into his owner’s Norfolk home in July 2023, according to law enforcement sources.
Wearing a hard hat, the accomplice knocked on the front door and told the unidentified victim that he needed to check for a gas leak, according to the Office of the Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney.
The robber then instructed the resident to open the back door, where Kennedy burst in with a gun and ordered him to the floor, the attorney’s office said.
But the resident’s four-legged friend immediately had a bone to pick with the intruders — and began flipping out, authorities said.
The pup caused such a ruckus, the victim managed to convince the bandits that he needed to take the dog outside to calm him.
While taking the dog out, he noticed the thieves left their getaway car running in the street, so he hopped into it — and drove around the corner to call police.
When the victim turned the getaway car in to police, it quickly led back to Kennedy, who left his ID and cellphone inside the vehicle, according to police.
The robbers were forced to flee on foot with thousands of dollars of stolen cash and other valuables, authorities said.
Kennedy was sentenced to 22 years in prison for armed robbery Friday.
During the frightening invasion, a roommate sleeping upstairs was also awakened by one of the robbers pointing a gun at him, authorities said.
The breed, name and age of the dog weren’t immediately clear.
“Home-invasion robberies are some of the most dangerous and frightening crimes anyone could commit,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi.
“These offenses are violent in nature and carry the risk of injury or death.”
