Two quick-thinking young girls have stopped potential dog thieves after spotting and removing secret signs left around their neighbourhood.
It this thought the young pair thwarted a gang of dog thieves targeting an area for pets to steal.
Sophie and her best mate Danielle, both 10, from Sutton in north Dublin spent hours on Thursday cutting zip ties from their neighbours bins and front gates.
The plastic markers are used by gangs to identify properties that have dogs - with criminals also using chalk to signal whether the homeowner is elderly, lives alone, or has a house alarm
Police have previously warned householders to be wary of secret signs left outside their homes.
It has been reported that thieves use signs - such as circles, crosses and other shapes - to signify a home that could be a good target for theft.
The signs can signify vulnerable residents, high-value targets, security measures and dogs.
The girls found dozens of zip ties left on different gates and bins around their estate.
It comes after Sutton in north Dublin has been plagued by a string of dog thefts.
After overhearing how the thieves are believed to mark their targets the girls walked around the estate and cut off all the ties they could find.
Mum Sarah wrote on Facebook : “Sophie and Danielle just cut these zip ties off the bins in the estate this morning!! Watch your pets."
Thieves are targeting popular expensive breeds such as cocker spaniels and French bulldogs.
Jack Russell, cockapoos and labradors are also thought to be among the most popular.
