CCTV camera thief filmed himself in the act

A man has become the chief suspect regarding the theft of CCTV cameras in Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia, after he was snapped staring directly into one of them as he allegedly lifted it from the wall of a photography studio earlier this week.

Police have released an image of the man, who was wearing a hoodie and cap and had a cigarette dangling from the side of his mouth, at Cole Studios in West Wollongong. Two cameras were taken during the robbery early on Sunday morning. In fact, police know the robbery took place at precisely 5.36am and five seconds. The footage was also timestamped.



Jason Cole, the owner of Cole Studios, said the alleged offender, thought to be aged in his mid 30s or early 40s, was first captured on camera wheeling his bicycle around the front of his business. "He's done well in life, he's got himself a nice pushbike," Mr Cole said. Mr Cole said the footage then showed the man pulling his hoodie up, walking down the side of the building and pulling the bin up to one of the cameras.

"He stands on the bin, disconnects it and pulls it out. Just before it cut, he puts the camera in his face," Mr Cole said. Mr Cole said the cameras were worth about $90 each, and were pointing down either side of the building. "They're not exactly high-price items, but he has cut the cables as well, so they're not even worth $90 now," Mr Cole said. Police have appealed for anyone with information about the identity of the man to contact Wollongong police.