Police are looking for man who falsely identified himself as a dog control officer named Bob.
Sergeant Blair Wilkinson said yesterday the man was confronted in the backyard of a Foyle St, Oamaru, property by an occupant at about 10am on Tuesday.
He was holding a black Labrador named Digger by the collar, and while he had neither a uniform nor identification, said he was a dog ranger dealing with a complaint.
The man left the scene in a white van without the dog, shortly after being questioned by a female boarder.
He was described as being a 175cm tall European, of medium build in his early 30s, with short, curly red hair.
He was wearing grey jeans and a white shirt with thin black stripes.
At the property yesterday, Jill Moore said Digger belonged to a man who worked in Christchurch.
The dog was not overly loud, she said, and generally barked only when someone was around.
Her boarder had been reorganising her room when the sound of the dog barking had drawn her outside to question the man she found there.
Mrs Moore's boarder said she knew something was amiss as soon as the man had introduced himself as Bob.
When she asked for his surname she was told that she was interrupting an investigation, and was warned that the authorities would be called.
"He threatened to call the police and I said no problem - you can use my phone," she said. The man calmly walked to his van and drove away.
Subsequent inquiries with the Waitaki District Council confirmed there was no dog control officer named Bob.
Sgt Wilkinson said it was unclear whether the man was trying to steal the dog, but noted dog control officers normally approached a residence by the front door.
He said those claiming to be officials should have identification, and people should not be afraid to ask to see it. He urged members of the public to note the vehicle registration number of anyone presenting themselves as an official.
