Serial Burglar Caught on Webcam

Metatron writes "The BBC is reporting about a serial burlgar caught after images recorded by a webcam were automatically emailed to an outside server. The evidence was made available to the police even though the computer itself had been stolen! This is also discussed on the victims own web site and the local newspaper in Cambridge." From the article: "I was relieved it did what I'd intended it to when I was burgled again. It was nice to catch him in the act - but it didn't stop him from stealing my things."

Comments

Serial burglar at 19...

[garcia]

It doesn't say a whole lot (and the victim agrees) when a serial burglar who had been imprisoned for burglary before and who was out on bail for yet another attempt only gets 11 months in prison.

At 19 years old with several prior convictions and now this and they think that it will rehabilitate him to stick him in prison for another year?

Glad that this guy was able to quickly solve his case (sad that he had to pay the price once before years ago) and get this guy behind bars but I'm sure it won't stop someone else from being burglarized by this guy again. :(

Re:Serial burglar at 19...

[cliffski]

don't forget on average he will serve only half his sentence. So even if he factors in the odd 8 months inside (full bed and board) given breaking into houses or a minimum wage job hes probably behaving rationally.
Given the threat of 5 years seriously hard labour in prison with no TV, no radio, nothing but basic food water and a cell would he be as likely to break in again? I know I wouldn't.

Re:Serial burglar at 19...

[lucabrasi999]

Whatt is going to rehabilitate him?

I do agree with your sentiment on this issue. But, in this case:

Police eventually tracked down Park, who has 33 previous convictions of theft, to Kingsway Flats in Cambridge where he tried to escape by climbing over the balcony on February 10.

The guy has 33 convictions. Is there a point where rehabilitations can even work?

Re:British Court system is FAST!

[91degrees]

Yeah, but if the guy who set up the webcam had actually been in the house and tried to stop the burglar, he'd be the one in jail, at least until recently.

Only if he'd, say, tied him up and set fire to him, or shot him dead when he was running away.

You are allowed to use reasonable force to repel intruders, and always have been.

I'm not usually this sarcastic...

[benhocking]

You're a genius! If we legalize drugs, there will never be another reason to commit crimes. All crimes can be tracked to this single cause! Cop killers - the cops were trying to keep them away from their inalienable right to get loaded. Wife beaters - because drugs are illegal, the perpetrators needed some other way to amuse themselves. We should all sign a petition to make drugs legal immediately!

Sigh. OK, now seriously - is there any evidence behind your first claim or any data to back up your second claim, or is this just a dead horse that you're fond of beating?

Re:British Court system is FAST!

[magarity]

the Brit's don't mess around!

Yes, they do. The criminal in question was out on bail when committing this robbery and had 13 priors. For this, he gets all of 11 months? WTF, that's a pansy slap on the wrist for such a serial criminal.

Re:How to do this on a Mac

[Mike Schiraldi]

I have mine record movements while out as well as speak "Intruder alert, intruder alert" hoping to scare any would-be burglers away while snapping their photo.

No no no .. you want to play something that would arouse their curiosity, not scare them. That way, they walk over and stare at the computer (and camera).