Man charged after alleged theft of blind dog Bowie in strange twist

A man charged after the alleged theft and dognapping earlier this year of a blind pet pooch Bowie has been arrested again near the dog’s home. Read shock update

A man has been arrested and charged for the alleged theft of a blind dog named Bowie

There has been a strange twist in the even stranger case of Bowie, the blind pet pooch dognapped from his Gold Coast home, with the alleged thief arrested again just down the road from the scene of the alleged crime.

Bowie, a blind four-year-old Australian shepherd, made national news in July when he was stolen during a brazen break-in at his family’s Southport home and driven hundred of kilometres away into NSW before an eagle-eyed petrol station attendant noticed the dog in a car at a Macksville servo the following day.

Maximiliano Cardozo has been arrested and charged for the alleged theft of a car and a blind dog named Bowie.

Maximilliano Cardozo, 48, was later arrested by NSW Police and charged with receiving stolen property.

He was ordered to reside in NSW until his case was finalised, with Queensland Police issuing a warrant for his arrest on the more serious charges of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and enter dwelling to commit an indictable offence. They would be activated once he returned to Queensland.

Kristy Durmans dog, Bowie, who was stolen from their Southport home. Photo: Supplied

However, while the NSW matters remain before the courts, Queensland police this week learnt Cardozo was back on the Gold Coast. Cardozo, who was living in a nearby street at the time of the July drama, was arrested at a Skiff Street address on Wednesday night over his outstanding warrant.

He was taken to the Southport Watchhouse and formally charged with one count of enter dwelling to commit an indictable offence and one of unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

He was given watch-house bail and ordered to appear in Southport Magistrates Court on January 11.

Bowie’s owner Luke Durman said on Thursday it was “unsettling” to learn Cardozo had been arrested so close to the family home.

“It was a bit concerning,” he said.

“We had heard that his bail conditions in NSW were that he wasn’t to return to Queensland until those matters were finalised, so it was a surprise.

“It’s a bit bitter-sweet because he was arrested on the warrant but he has already been released again.”

He said the family had been anxious since the July drama, investing more than $20,000 into a state-of-the art home security system.

“That’s part of the paranoia that you go through,” he said.