«First of all, I wondered if that was possible at all.Today I am glad that we tried it.“Sascha Furrer says with a noticeable pride.He is a division of security at the correctional facility (JVA) Solothurn and in 2019 gave the consent to the attempt to train a dog as a detection dog for mobile phones in Solothurn in Solothurn in Solothurn.
If you want to do this in Switzerland, you have to have your dog officially checked after the training.So far, only two people have done this, namely Jürg Berger, dog handler of the JVA Pöschwies, and Vanessa Schneider, dog handler in the JVA Solothurn.Passed, whose dogs find seven out of eight cell phones.These are hidden, buried or well closed at different places inside and outdoors.
How does a cell phone smell?
Tiesto, Schneider's dog, found eight out of eight cell phones.He concluded with the grade of "very good".The young woman invested a lot for that: «It was very complex.We practiced for around a year, especially in our free time, »says Schneider and caresses the four -year -old German Shepherd.Tiesto belongs to her personally.But both dog and dog handler are in the service of the JVA Solothurn.
The most common question about the topic of cell phone detection dog could only answer the dog itself: How does a cell phone smell?"We do not know that.However, we know that cell phones have a smell and dogs can remember it in training - similar to that is the case, for example, with narcotics, »explains Schneider.Dogs can be set up on practically everything, which is why the JVA Solothurn wants to go one step further.
Tiesto should also be able to sniff data carriers such as USB sticks in the future.The training has already started Vanessa Schneider."Data carrier becomes an increasingly important evidence," explains Peter Schefer, head of the service dog group of the JVA Solothurn.If Tiesto once masters this exam, it will be among the first in Switzerland.One is already on duty at the Zurich city police.
Dog saves time and staff
The fact that Tiesto can sniff up cell phones began as an attempt.In the meantime, Tiesto with its new skills is an integral part of the JVA Solothurn."A cell had to be searched with several employees in the past, the time required was greater," recalls security chief Sascha Furrer.«Thanks to Vanessa Schneider and Tiesto, a cell search takes less time today, fewer staff and can take place spontaneously.»
Incidentally, we are looking for not only in the cells, but on the entire area of the prison.This also includes areas such as the garden, where the prisoners plant vegetables under supervision.Chief of security for Furrer and dog handler Schneider must not say whether cell phones have already been found there.«We just look routinely everywhere - the vegetable garden is also part of it.»
