New Zealand burgler arrested thanks to Facebook

New Zealand police have made their first “Facebook arrest” after placing CCTV footage of a burglar on the social networking site, Facebook.

On Monday, the 21-year-old apprentice was trying to break into a safe in a tavern using an angle-grinder. He became too hot and took his balaclava off making his face recognizable on the hidden CCTV camera. A police officer in Queensland, New Zealand, posted the footage on their Facebook page. Within 24 hours of the break-in, the burglar was identified and arrested. Queensland police have called it their “first Facebook arrest”. Their method of reaching out to the public is now being used as a trial by the national police force. The Queensland police Facebook page was created by Sean Drader, intelligence analyst with the force. Drader, decided to setup the page after seeing similar profiles from forces in America and the UK. Following the arrest, the force’s friend base has now doubled to 417 after receiving positive feedback from the local community. Social networking sites such as Facebook are now commonly used by police to track down the movements of criminals. In November 2007, a suspect in the death of a British student in Italy on the run from the police was contacted by a British newspaper. Rudy Guede is now in jail for this part in the murder of Meredith Kercher. Police in New Zealand still rely on old fashioned methods to catch their criminals. Last year, police in Cristchurch distributed a wanted poster featuring a photo of British comedian, Robbie Coltrane. The under age criminal they were trying to capture resembled the comedian. It is not known if Christchurch police caught the criminal.