STARKE, Fla. – A homeowner was able to catch a burglary suspect in the act with the help of an email and surveillance system, according to authorities.
The burglary happened at 9:26 a.m. Nov. 29 when emergency operators received a call from a homeowner who said someone was breaking into his home in rural Bradford County, deputies said.
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Authorities said the man told the 911 operator that he received an email that his home camera motion sensor went off and that someone was actively breaking into his home. This was confirmed by a photo of the unknown suspect that was in his home, being transmitted to the homeowner's phone, authorities said.
Deputies said they found Charles Futch III, the man in the surveillance footage, leaving the home.
The Sheriff's Office said the homeowner provided pictures from his home security cameras that show the suspect in the living room, kitchen and master bedroom.
Authorities said Futch was arrested and later admitted to the crime. He was booked into the Bradford County jail pending two felony charges of larceny and burglary and one misdemeanor of property damage and criminal mischief, deputies said.
According to Sheriff Gordon Smith, the homeowner had been the victim of two previous burglaries and configured an old laptop with cameras and a motion detector so he could monitor his home via his smartphone. The system allowed the homeowner to have an almost instant view of the inside of his home. The suspect had no idea he was on camera the entire time his picture was being taken, deputies said.