17 July 2023 , 14:51
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A thief was caught in plain sight after making the unwise move of showing his full face on his victim's Ring camera.
Burglar Sam Norman was nicked when the doorbell device picked up his profile in crystal clear detail while ransacking a home in the village of Pinvin, Worcestershire, on Monday last week.
A court heard how Norman, 35, stared straight into the device right as his hood slipped down, revealing his face during the early morning break in.
The crook even tried poking the camera with a pole to get it to look the other way, but by this time it was too late.
Video shows Norman looking through a wheelie bin before finding the pole of a rotary dryer which he uses to jab at the security camera.
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Sam Norman was caught - quite literally - red-handed (West Mercia Police / SWNS)He was caught quite literally red-handed, as the thief who was wearing red gloves to carry out the crime on July 10 was recognised by police officers later scanning the footage.
Worcester Crown court heard Norman had come face to face with his horrified victim inside the house, which was under renovation at the time, and apologised before fleeing the scene empty-handed on his bike.
When officers attended his home, he tried to escape but was caught after a short foot chase, with detectives later establishing he had also been involved in another nearby burglary last month.
He managed to avoid jail in the hearing on Monday after pleading guilty to attempted burglary, as well as admitting to two other other break in.
Norman was recognised by police after surveying the footage (West Mercia Police / SWNS)A West Mercia Police spokesperson said: "There was a confrontation in the garden. He [Norman] was trying to get into the house and activated the Ring doorbell camera and then tried to move the camera.
"The homeowner challenged him and he apologised and cycled off. He did not get away with any property."
Norman, of Drakes Broughton, Worcestershire, was handed an 18-week prison sentence suspended for 18 months and a 12-week 9pm-8.30am curfew.