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Caught via the internet! Holidaymaker watched home raid on laptop
Last updated at 11:07am on 14.09.06
John Ellison: He watched the raid on his home unfold on his laptop while in Spain
An engineering boss' watched a raid on his home home while he holidayed 1,600 miles away, in Spain.
John Ellison's £20,000 security system of 16 CCTV cameras is linked to the internet, and when thieves smashed the conservatory door in £600,000 home in Lancaster it triggered an alarm to his mobile as he holidayed in Spain.
John immediately logged on and witnessed the 40 minute raid while 1,6000 miles away in Malaga.
He called the police to apprehend the burglars as he watched the events unfold live on his laptop, and they caught two of the three men involved in the raid, one wearing a Bart Simpson mask, hiding in the bathroom.
The CCTV footage showed a third man was present, and he is still being hunted by the police.
John, 52 said: "They were armed with bags full of crow bars and other tools. I was livid.
"I could see them smashing doors and various other things.
"But it was wonderful to see them being marched out and their masks being pulled off."
"The security system is expensive but worth every penny. The police seemed impressed as I directed the operations from Spain."
John estimates the burglars caused £12,000 of damage to his property.
Mark Johnson and, 46, and Ian McClements, 20 pleaded guilty to burglary at Lancaster Magistrates Court and will be sentenced on November 5.
Reader views (5)
He has saved his home, but after the robbers get a smack on the wrist... it could be one of us next. This will never have a happy ending.
- Mossy, UK
Points and questions
1. Why did it take 40 minutes for the Police to arrive?
2. After being caught in the act, does pleady guilty still mean that they get a reduced sentence? Why should they?
3. Getting a reduced sentence should imply that they have cooperated with police enquiries and since the third man is still at large can we assume that they don't deserve a leniant sentence?
4. Did the police provide inadequate resources for the apprehension of all three criminals?
5. The cost of the £12,000 damage will be borne by the insurance companies - you and I will pay. Why not have the insurance companies sue the criminals for the damages - and make them lose out for their actions?
Police should have responded to an "in progress event" as a priority. After all catching criminals is the name of the game, isn't it?
- Dafydd, Cymru - Wales
£20,000 for 16 camera security system? Sounds like Mr Ellison was robbed by the guys that installed the system.
- Pedro, London, UK
We need to see the video footage - this has got to be worth a look!
- Voyeur, Surrey
Technology isn't always everything it's cracked up to be. This time it was. Fab stuff.
- John Gregory, Cambridge, UK
