Technology is constantly evolving, and so are the methods in which people can use it to incriminate others. You can see, for example, "Man Arrest After Blagging About Unsolved Robbery" (Feb. 25, 2006); "Police Rapidly Crack The Case of Stolen GPS Devices” (Jan. 20, 2007); and "Facebook: Bad News For Bigamists"(Mar. 29, 2011; "Rapper Who Rapped about Committing Fraud Arrested For Fraud" (Oct. 19,2020). While this has been done before, I have never seen anyone film the entire criminality from the initial theft to the police recovery.

The man in question had stolen a surveillance camera. It was wireless and had a cellular connection. This allowed the camera to continue broadcasting a live feed even after it was taken and moved. The motion sensor on the camera alerted its owner who could then view the feed via his smartphone. He realized quickly that the camera had been taken and that the theft was accidental. He dialed the police.

The video showed that the camera was placed in a backpack and continued transmitting, according to police. It was then able to witness the theft of the item by being removed from its backpack.

"The video continues, and it shows the same white male suspect who was seen in the previous recording taking the camera from his bag and selling it off to another male subject that (police were able) to identify," the police report stated. It also revealed that the man who bought the still-working camera called his girlfriend by her name on the video. Police said they knew the couple well and where they lived.

The police went to the home of the buyer and found the camera. The buyer admitted that he bought the camera. Although the article does not clarify whether the seller knew the camera was stolen, he told police where to find it.

It doesn't necessarily say that police kept the feed running until they arrested the suspect, but I would like to believe they did. If I was the victim, I would have demanded it.

Also see "What Does a Security Camera Thief Look like?" (Dec. 15, 2014.) ("like this"); cf. "Camera Captures Moment Robber Realized Robbery Was Not Going as Planned." (Feb. 17, 2010,) ("Let's suppose you're an actor and are asked to portray the emotions of a man that just realized he stole $2,700 while fleeing from police. This is .").