Man foils break-in from 8 000km away
The iPad is shown after it was unveiled at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) The iPad is shown after it was unveiled at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Sydney - An Australian on holiday at a resort in the Indian Ocean territory of Mauritius alerted police after the iPad he rigged up to security web cameras showed two men rifling through belongings inside his suburban Melbourne home 8 000 kilometres away, news reports said on Wednesday.
The two were arrested, charged with burglary and theft, and are expected to appear in court in December and January.
The homeowner told the Herald Sun that he bought the three cameras for less than 300 Australian dollars (294 US dollars) three years ago so he could watch over his home while he was away.
“But I never thought they would come to be used one day,” he told the paper.
Police Constable Bianca Aitken, one of three officers called to the September incident, said it was a novel experience for her.
“You obviously have CCTV footage - which helps - but to actually get them on an iPad from the other side of the world is a pretty good find, I think,” she said. “I guess he was being cautious with going overseas, but it paid off.”Author: Sid Astbury - Sapa-dpa