This is the moment a bungling burglar tried to break into house – unaware he is just inches away from a CCTV camera.
Jake Smith, 24, can be seen in the crystal-clear footage trying to force open a bathroom window.
The unwitting intruder flashes his face to camera, which is trained on a garden gazebo, several times before fleeing empty handed.
In the 25-second clip, Smith, who is wearing gloves to avoid leaving finger prints, approaches the window and attempts to wrestle it open.
After being disturbed by a neighbour of his intended victim, Smith can be seen running from the property in Wednesfield, West Mids.
Smith, from Wolverhampton, West Mids., was tracked down after cops released the footage of the incident and received dozens of calls from people who recognised him.
He was arrested on June 13 and jailed last Friday for 21 months after pleading guilty to attempted burglary at Wolverhampton Crown Court.
After the hearing, Pc Mick Walley, from West Midlands Police, said: “We were sure that someone in the community would know the man if we released the footage which was extremely good quality.
“Within a day of releasing the images we received enough information to be able to arrest Smith.
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank the local media and members of the public who helped us put this burglar behind bars.”
