Burglars were filmed for 8 days by a camera they stole during $8,000 home robbery
A stolen security camera continued to transmit live footage of the burglars who took it for eight days before the culprits finally destroyed the camera, according to a Realtor who is in charge of the home.
“It’s like an episode of world’s dumbest criminals," said Erica Winship, of Premier Point Realty, who said the footage still exists.
A house near 74th Street and Silver Spring Drive was the site of a burglary last week where thousands of dollars' worth of tools were stolen.
Among the items stolen was a security camera that caught the crime on video. However, that camera never stopped transmitting, and over a week later it continued to feed live footage.
Winship, who has seen some of the footage, said in the eight days after the incident, the camera taped people doing drugs and discussing crimes in their home.
“On camera these burglars have been talking about stealing the tools, where to sell the tools, talking about drugs and even doing drugs,” Winship said.
Winship was in the process of rehabilitating the home she planned to sell when the incident happened.
“It's kind of a little heartbreaking that you work so hard to bring a product to people that will be beautiful, and someone just has the need to take things that don't belong to them — I just don't think it's right,” Winship said.
She said the damages to the home cost her extra money, while a lack of tools means the work on the home has been delayed by two to three weeks.
Winship is still unsure whether the burglars were aware they were stealing a camera or not, but surmises that they were unaware that the camera has a wireless option that allowed it to continue filming.
“I'm guessing that they may not know that it's still running because otherwise why would they openly show their faces on a camera as they are stealing from a job site?” Winship said.
Eight days after the crime Winship confirmed the camera was destroyed, and according to the Arlo website, the brand of camera being used, wireless cameras such as the one stolen can continue filming for three to six months without dying.
The Milwaukee Police Department says they have not made any arrests at this time but are continuing to investigate the matter.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Burglars filmed for 8 days by camera they stole during $8,000 robbery
