POLICE dog Troy leapt into action following an attempted burglary at a Torquay hotel.

The German Shepherd was called in after an alleged intruder was spotted in the dining room of the Bishops Court Hotel.

Police say an attempt had been made to take silverware from the hotel on Lower Warberry Road, which was occupied by guests at the time.

Sgt Stephen Shepherd explained the dog handler spotted a man in the dining room of the property.

He said the dog was let off the lead and the suspected intruder fled through a fire exit before being taken to the ground by the dog and arrested by police.

Police were called by the hotel's night porter after he spotted someone on the premises at 4.20am yesterday.

Bishops Court Hotel general manager Daryl Batten praised the actions of the police.

"They turned up quickly after they were called," he said.

"Our night porter phoned the police after seeing someone on the premises.

"A man was found in the breakfast room and escorted off the premises by police."

Officers were already in the area making inquiries after a suspected burglar fled from premises just 300 metres away an hour earlier.

It is believed the two incidents are related.

A man ran away after being challenged when trying to break into the Rose Hill rehabilitation unit, also in Lower Warberry Road.

Sgt Shepherd said the arrest was a great result for Troy and his handler PC James Johnson.

"They have had some really, really good results," he said.

"They took out another burglar in December."

A 21-year-old man is currently in custody helping police with their inquiries.