IN six years of service with the Fiji Police Force, tracker dog Caesar has recovered $38,000 worth of stolen items.
This includes $13,000 in cash recovered in Taveuni early this year from a robbery in Matei.
Speaking at the Northern Crime Prevention Carnival during the police dog display in Labasa, acting Assistant Superintendant of Police Viliame Soko told the crowd Caesar had served six years with the Fiji Police Force.
Acting ASP Soko said part of the $38,000 recovery was also made in Suva during Caesar's service with the dog unit in Nasese.
In Taveuni, he said Caesar helped resolve cases of dalo theft in leading a team of investigating officers to thieves' homes. Caesar was taken to Taveuni Police Station last year where he is now based.
"In fact, Caesar has helped resolve some investigations where we have arrested suspects a few hours after the robbery or less than an hour," said police northern spokesman Constable Luke Rawalai.
"Caesar has played a vital role in assisting police with investigations that led to successful results," he said.
Mr Rawalai said Police Commissioner Brigadier General Ioane Naivalurua's vision was to have a dog unit in police stations that covered major ports of entries.
"This will include a sniffer, a tracker and explosive canines," he said.