Burgler felled by Webcam on the computer he stole

**John Bennett** · 02-17-2005, 13:35

I love this kind of ironic justice...

http://w3.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/...?StoryID=69201

Burglar snared by computer webcam

THIS picture shows the moment bungling burglar Benjamin Park was captured on a computer camera - and his career of crime was brought to a halt.

Gotcha: Webcam pictures of Park

Park smashed his way into a Cambridge home and stole equipment worth almost £4,000 while on bail for a previous attempted burglary.

But homeowner Duncan Grisby snared him on a webcam and the pictures were posted on the internet, showing the burglar in action.

...Victoria Perkins, prosecuting, said Mr Grisby had been a victim of burglary a few years ago and had installed a motion-activated security camera in his computer.

There was also a back up system so if the computer was stolen the captured images would be transferred to his private website.

Police eventually tracked down Park, who has 33 previous convictions of theft [What the heck was this guy doing walking the streets??! -jb], to Kingsway Flats in Cambridge where he tried to escape by climbing over the balcony on February 10.

Park showed no emotion as he was sentenced to a total of 11 months in jail [?!?! -jb], six months for the attempted burglary in Ely and five months for the one in Gilmerton Court.

Det Sgt Al Page, who leads Cambridgeshire police's burglary squad in Cambridge, paid tribute to Mr Grisby's computer knowledge.

"It made our job really easy and it was a pleasure to see the expression on his face when we showed him the pictures as we interviewed him," he said.

**jwinch2** · 02-17-2005, 14:36

Stupid criminals make me happy...

**Chrono** · 02-17-2005, 21:21

Originally Posted by jwinch2

Stupid criminals make me happy...

I'm sure they make you laugh, too.

**Mandeigh Wells** · 02-18-2005, 04:13

I saw that on the news yesterday...sometimes I really feel sorry for these folk being so stupid......(for a nano second) and then I think we really can cut back on the police force, is the crims are going to film themselves.....

A Darwin award candidate perhaps????

The Nephilim · 02-18-2005, 05:00

11 months for the crime. He will be out in 5 for good conduct and back on the streets doing the thing he knows best to do.

But the idea that put him away is great. It is just a shame that I do not have faith in the UK criminal justice system.

**John Bennett** · 02-18-2005, 06:54

I love the look on his face...

http://img23.exs.cx/img23/315/pwn3d9mr.jpg

**Mandeigh Wells** · 02-18-2005, 07:34

Originally Posted by John Bennett

I love the look on his face...

http://img23.exs.cx/img23/315/pwn3d9mr.jpg

yikes...that was pretty scary!

**John Bennett** · 02-18-2005, 09:40

I know what you mean. With a mug like that and so much hair loss at age 19, I guess a life of crime becomes an attractive career choice.

At least he already owns a black & white stripey shirt like prisoners wear.

**Dennis Monk** · 02-18-2005, 10:59

Originally Posted by The Nephilim

11 months for the crime. He will be out in 5 for good conduct and back on the streets doing the thing he knows best to do.

But the idea that put him away is great. It is just a shame that I do not have faith in the UK criminal justice system.

If that guy got 11 months for his crime, there is a major problem over there. In Texas he would have more than likely received between 10 and 20 years. If he has been twice convicted of a felony in the past, he could get life.