Plenty of dogs bark at strangers. Nash, a 4-year-old golden retriever in San Diego, had a different idea when a suspected burglar climbed into the family home earlier in September. Nash grabbed a toy and offered it to the intruder. Then did it again. And again. The dog’s owners watched the whole thing through their home security app while flying home from a trip.
- A San Diego couple used their Ring app to watch an intruder climb a ladder into their second-floor window while they flew home from a trip.
- Their golden retriever, Nash, kept bringing the stranger toys during a fridge raid and a nap.
- Police arrived within five minutes, and a 57-year-old was arrested on suspicion of first-degree burglary.
A Ladder, an Open Window and a Ring Alert
Dante Rowley and his fiancée, Stephanie, were heading home from a trip when they opened their Ring app as the plane was taking off. Something looked wrong right away. A ladder from behind their shed was propped against a second-floor window. That window had been left slightly open.
The intruder was later identified as John Cline, 57. Once inside, Cline took off his shirt and shoes and made himself comfortable, like a houseguest invited for the weekend. According to Rowley, Cline went through the refrigerator and snacked on yogurt, turkey and cheese. After that came a nap.
Nash Had Other Priorities
Plenty of people assume a big dog will scare off an intruder. Nash didn’t get that memo. The golden retriever treated the stranger like a new friend, trotting up again and again with a toy in hopes of a game. When one toy didn’t do the trick, Nash came back with a different one.
Guard dog mode never kicked in. Nash’s whole approach was about finding a playmate, and a shirtless stranger eating the family’s turkey apparently qualified.
Texting the Police From 30,000 Feet
Rowley couldn’t exactly run home. So he did the next best thing. From 30,000 feet in the air, he texted the San Diego Police Department and gave officers live access to the Ring camera app. That meant police could see what was happening inside the house in real time instead of relying on a secondhand description.
The couple kept up a running play-by-play for officers, coordinating with them by phone and through the security app. Stuck in their seats on a plane, they still managed to become a key part of the response.
Officers reached the Sherman Heights home within five minutes. Footage showed them sending a drone inside the house first, then entering with guns drawn. Nash met them with a toy as well. As far as Nash was concerned, the officers were just more potential playmates.
Police arrested Cline on suspicion of first-degree burglary. The security footage has since gone viral on social media, and it’s easy to see why. A stranger raiding the fridge, a nap on the job and a dog who only wants to play make for a story that’s equal parts alarming and funny.
Lock the Upper Windows and Put Away the Ladder
The funny parts of this story can hide the serious ones. Someone got into a family’s home, and the owners could only watch from a plane. A few details stand out for anyone hoping to avoid a similar scene.
The ladder came from the couple’s own yard, and the window was left slightly open. Both are easy to overlook. Upstairs windows can feel safe just because they’re high up, but a ladder sitting outside changes that math fast. Locking ladders away and closing upper windows before a trip are simple habits worth building.
The camera made a big difference too. Because Rowley could share live video with police, officers could see what was happening inside before they went in. If you have a home security app, learn ahead of time how to share access quickly, since you’ll probably be in a hurry when it counts.
And if your dog is more likely to hand a burglar a toy than chase anyone off, that’s alright. Nash won’t be winning any guard dog awards, but that goofy welcome gave the internet plenty to smile about.
