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Police Chief Robert Bilow with Buddy: "I made wanted posters at home"
Photo: Police Inspectorate Anklam
SPIEGEL:
Mr. Bilow, you were recently called to an unusual mission.
What happened?
Robert Bilow:
I should go to a supermarket in Greifswald.
There a woman had her dog Buddy stolen.
She had fled Ukraine with her two small children and Buddy, her husband was not allowed to come with them.
The woman was very excited.
Unfortunately we could hardly communicate.
MIRROR:
How did you manage it?
Bilow:
We have communicated with the Google translator.
You speak in German and it comes out written in Ukrainian.
That worked to some extent.
A witness was still there, she saw how an unknown man took the dog and walked in the direction of a residential area.
She called us too.
"That's exactly what you should never do as a police officer"
SPIEGEL:
How was the Ukrainian doing?
Bilow:
She was totally upset and fought back tears.
How terrible.
I also have dogs.
I felt so sorry for the woman.
That's why I promised her I'd find her dog.
That's exactly what you should never do as a police officer.
SPIEGEL:
Why not?
Bilow:
Because it's never certain that you can keep promises like that.
Later I thought, "Oh, God, what have I done?
Now I've given her such hope."
SPIEGEL:
What did you do then?
Bilow:
First I searched the area around the supermarket.
Then I went back there after work and looked for Buddy in the residential area.
I thought maybe the perpetrator would take him for a walk.
But unfortunately without success.
SPIEGEL:
What happened next?
Bilow:
I was in contact with the Ukrainian via WhatsApp.
The app also has a translation feature that works well.
The woman sent me photos of Buddy and I made wanted posters at home.
I laminated ten pieces.
I wanted to hang them in the supermarket and in the residential area.
On Monday I had another assignment, but on Tuesday I left before my shift started.
At first I wanted to go to the animal shelter because I thought maybe someone had given the dog away.
MIRROR:
And?
Bilow:
The director of the shelter saw my posters and recognized Buddy immediately.
She said that someone found him in downtown Greifswald on Saturday and took him there.
I then quickly drove to the police station with Buddy, put on my uniform and immediately sent his owner a photo.
A lot of hearts came back from her.
When we got to her, she was already waiting for us.
She immediately hugged me, she was so happy to have Buddy back.
MIRROR:
And Buddy?
Bilow:
The dog was overjoyed too.
He's really a great little guy, a Shih Tzu - such a cute thing, as soft as cotton wool, easy to fall in love with.