Tech-Savvy Homeowner Catches Long Island Burglary Suspect On Webcam
SEAFORD, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- It must have seemed like easy pickings for an accused burglar in Nassau County -- enter the house and take what you like. However, police said his attempt was thwarted thanks to one tech-savvy victim, who caught the bad guy on his computer camera.
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Accused burglary bandit Mark McLloyd must have thought he had free run of a home on Washington Avenue in Seaford as police said he began looting the place.
What he didn't know was that the home's owner, Josep Valls, had a little computer camera rigged up right on top of his monitor and watched the whole thing from his desktop at work 20 miles away.
"It's sickening really that this guy is in my house and he's taking my things," Valls told CBS 2's Scott Rapoport.
Valls said the camera is set to take a picture every 30 seconds with the images being uploaded to his and his wife's server at work.
"I'm watching it all play out while he's doing this," Valls said.
He said he installed the camera so his wife could keep an eye on the dogs during the day.
"So she could see the dogs from her work in Manhattan and be able to see the dogs here every 30 seconds," Valls said.
But when Valls saw what was happening on his screen, he immediately called 911. Police came and made the arrest in the backyard.
"Apparently he decided to cool his feet in the pool because that's where they found him," Valls said.
As it turns out Valls is a technology geek of sorts. So the hi-tech gear was something he had to have, but he never figured it would pay off so effectively.
"I never thought I'd end up catching a guy robbing my house," Valls said.
Police said McLloyd has been fingered in several other robberies in the area. He has now been charged with 4 counts of burglary thanks to the watchful eye installed by a protective techie, whose wife happens to love dogs.
Nassau County police said it is actually the second time the suspect robbed Valls' home. McLloyd pleaded not guilty in court Tuesday. He's being held on $1.2 million bond.
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