Thou shalt not steal thy neighbour’s surveillance camera

HAUGHTON, La. – Louisiana authorities say a burglar effectively caught himself red-handed, unwittingly livestreaming his theft of a neighbour’s new surveillance camera.

The Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office says the neighbour watched the crime unfold in real time, and recognized the culprit as 43-year-old Franklin Welzbacher Jr.

A sheriff’s statement says the stolen camera also showed things inside Welzbacher’s house.

Sheriff’s spokesman Bill Davis said Tuesday that Welzbacher told deputies he had permission to borrow a paint brush, but had nothing to say when asked about the camera.

His bond was set at $10,000 on a simple burglary charge. Davis said he doesn’t know whether Welzbacher has an attorney who could speak for him.