An enterprising computer science student has succeeded in catching a burglar after installing a video camera that sent pictures of the offender to his laptop.

Richard East, of Camden in north London, laid the electronic trap after having a laptop and iPod stolen from his flat during a previous burglary.

Because vital power leads had been left behind he considered it highly probable that the thief would return.

East installed a webcam with a wireless connection and motion detection capability. When the thief broke into his property again the webcam recorded a five-second video and emailed it to East.

East then showed the video to the police which had details of the burglar on file. An arrest took place within four days.

His only regret? That he hadn't spent the money on better door security in the first place.