Caught via the internet! Holidaymaker watched home raid on laptop
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.
