Glynn Purnell and his dog Whoops

Glynn Purnell and his dog Whoops

Glynn Purnell and his dog Whoops - Celeb chef’s 'yapping' dog defeats burglars, Famous British chef and restaurateur Glynn Purnell was at home in bed recently when his house was reportedly broken into by hammer-wielding burglars Fortunately for Purnell, Whoops, his ‘yapping’ Jack Russell terrier was on guard. Purnell says that the little dog chased off the intruders before they could grab much of value.
Michelin-starred chef Glynn Purnell has revealed how his tiny pet dog, Whoops, sent burglars fleeing during a late-night raid on his home.

Mr Purnell, his partner Kerry and their three young children were asleep when hammer-wielding thugs smashed their way into the rural property.

But the burglars got more than they bargained for when Whoops, a seven-year-old Jack Russell, sprang to the family’s defence.

The panicking intruders fled after grabbing a couple of bags which contained nothing but nappies and dummies.

In fact, they may have had a lucky escape – burly Purnell, 37, is a keen martial arts enthusiast with a love of kickboxing and Aikido.

Purnell told the Mail: “Having kids, it is just frightening to think what might have happened.

"I keep asking myself what I would have done if I had come down and seen the burglars? I would love to have caught them and shown them some of my fighting skills, but Whoops stole my thunder.

“It just goes to show that whatever security you have got, nothing is as effective as a small dog.”

Purnell rewarded his feisty terrier with a slap-up home-cooked dinner of slow-roast pork, with a spring onion risotto and green beans.

Asked if Whoops would have put up a fight, the chef said: “She’s as hard as nails. I used to have problems with her on the lead because she would fight any other dog.

“Jack Russells have small dog syndrome. The burglars would have been no match for her.”

Purnell, boss of Purnell’s and The Asquith in Birmingham, went to bed at 1am on Monday after being prompted by Kerry to check the front and back doors were secure.

The first the couple knew of the break-in was when 37-year-old Kerry went into the pantry the following morning and saw the smashed window, near Whoops’s bed.

Purnell, who has three children – Oliver, six, Esmé, three, and nine-month-old Vincent – said: “The back window in the pantry had been knocked in. They broke in, smashed the blind, climbed in and jumped down.

"They grabbed a couple of bags off a hook, but they were just baby bags.

“I think they were disturbed. The dog must have woken up and gone for them. There was a hammer left in the garden, so they must have been in a rush to get away.”

Purnell said the response from Warwickshire Police had been ‘fantastic’.

‘‘It’s been like CSI in here with the police dusting for prints,” he added.

“I think we have been extremely lucky. It could have been a lot worse. We live in a quiet part of a village and they could have held us hostage and cleared the place out.

“It doesn’t matter where you live or what security you have, burglars will have a go.”

A spokeswoman for Warwickshire Police said tackling burglary was a priority for the force. She added: “The most important thing is to keep doors and windows locked and to review security.”

Anyone with information about the raid should call Warwickshire Police on 01926 415000.