VANDALS have been warned to stay out of former service homes in Carterton, which are now being patrolled by an RAF dog team.

A 25-year-old was caught allegedly trying to steal copper piping when he was tracked down and snared by an RAF Police dog.

Air Dog Charli, a four-year-old German shepherd, followed the man through the estate near RAF Brize Norton before cornering him on a roof.

Most of the houses are empty and awaiting demolition because 800 new family homes are being built in preparation for the transfer of operations from RAF Lyneham to Brize Norton by December 2012.

Police said there had been a surge in vandalism and criminal activity on the estate since families left, prompting officers to increase patrols around the area.

Last night base spokesman Katie Zasada warned would-be criminals that they could encounter a nasty surprise if they ventured on to the estate.

She said: “This should stand as a warning to anyone intent on vandalising these properties.

“Air Dog Charli and his four legged friends are out there and they mean business.”

His handler, Corporal Jon Simpson, said last week’s chase was just another day’s work for Charli.

He said: ‘It was a buzz using him to track a real person and even better to have located him successfully.

“But for Charli, it was just like any other day in training. So long as he got his ball as a reward at the end, he was happy.”

During the routine evening patrol Corporal Simpson and colleague Corporal Matthew Nikolich heard the sound of breaking glass.

Seeing light in a downstairs window, Cpl Simpson and Charli challenged two men, who fled the scene.

The dog picked up a scent immediately and, after a 15- minute search, led the patrol to a flat porch roof outside an empty building.

Corporal Nikolich climbed up and brought the young man down and handed him over to Thames Valley Police officers, who took him into custody.

The other man managed to escape.

Cpl Nikolich, who passed out of RAF Police initial training earlier this year, said: “What began as a routine patrol turned out to be quite an eventful evening.

“I was really pleased to have put into practice the training I received.

“It was a great feeling to have assisted our civilian police counterparts in detaining a man of significant interest to them for previous offences.”

Thames Valley Police spokesman Craig Evry said a 25-year-old man arrested on suspicion of burglary had been bailed until November 8.