Innovative pupil solves classroom caper with rigged mousetrap

Taking matters into his own hands, an Australian boy solved a schoolyard whodunit using his wits and a clever invention.

Harry Cordaiy, 11, was one of many students in his class who were tired of having their lunch money stolen by unknown thieves. After teachers failed to take action, Cordaiy rigged a mousetrap and used a $5 bill as bait.

"I decided to act because I was annoyed that they had robbed a lot of classes, and a lot of people were missing $20," Cordaiy said.



Cordaiy applied green food colouring on the mousetrap’s bar and metal fittings and cut a small hole in the money, securing it on the bait hook with sticky tape, so the thief would be hit with the coloured bar while stealing the money. He then placed the mousetrap in his backpack.

One of the offenders was caught green-handed en route to the bathroom in a desperate bid to wash off the evidence. The younger boy confessed his guilt. An accomplice in the same year was also nabbed.

The pair had amassed a booty of $165 from their crime spree - blowing $15 on lollies at the canteen. Harry's mother, Michaela, 38, a nurse, could not be more proud of her son. She said she had grown up around mousetraps and did not believe any child could have been seriously injured.