This CCTV footage captures the moment a burglar jumped with fright and ran off after he was challenged by a resident over a CCTV security system.
Steven Hewes, of no fixed address, had already broken into the property and was putting his gloves on ready to go back in when the victim said ‘hello’ over a speaker system – visibly shocking him into a hurried escape.
However, the footage led to the 61-year-old being tracked down and charged with burglary.
He was later jailed for four-and-a-half years.
The incident happened on February 26 at around 1pm in West Street, Kimberley.
The victim's property is fitted with a doorbell motion sensor camera to his garden gate.
Motion activation notifications were sent to the victim's mobile phone and he received three alerts, with the technology allowing him to say 'hello' to Hewes, who replied 'sorry, sorry' before running away.
The victim was able to view video clips of the footage immediately.
Those clips showed that Hewes walked down the side of his house, towards the back garden, while carrying a camera bag stolen from a drawer inside the house.
The victim rang the police and he quickly returned home to find entry had been forced to his rear patio door.
Two cameras and one watch were stolen.
A relative of the victim recognised the man and this prompted another call to officers.
Hewes was arrested later the same day and was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court on April 8.
Detective Constable Sacha Carlisle, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "Smart technology, such as doorbell cameras, can play a key role in catching criminals when footage is captured, downloaded and shared with the police.
“A doorbell camera alone will not prevent entry to your property but it can be an important tool to identify who was responsible for criminality and also act as a deterrent. In Hewes' case the evidence was there for all to see.
"We hope the victim is given some closure after such a horrible incident."
