A would-be burglar appeared to be spooked after coming face-to-face with a homeowner's pet cat before accidentally triggering an alarm.
Mark Lawson, 42, was caught on CCTV footage crawling around the back garden of a house in West Bridgford, Nottingham, looking for a way to break in at 6.30am on 16 March.
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Unknown to the would-be burglar, he had activated an intruder app, which let the homeowner know someone was prowling around their property and ensured they were able to alert the authorities.
He could be seen crawling up the back door of the property, where he came up close with a ginger cat calmly watching him from the other side of the glass.
Lawson, who was wearing a scarf covering his face and a hat, then ran off from the scene as an alarm sounded.
He was arrested nearby and appeared in Nottingham Crown Court on 13 October where he admitted attempted burglary and was given a 12-month jail term, suspended for two years.
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Lawson was given an additional sentence of six months in prison, suspended for two years, for three counts of handling stolen goods.
He was also ordered to undergo treatment for drug dependency and to pay a £149 victim surcharge.
Detective Constable Christopher Copley, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "Lawson had every intention of breaking in the home of a family as they slept upstairs and was foiled only by modern technology.
"The swift and calm actions of the homeowner, who was understandably concerned for the safety of his family, allowed us to catch up with this offender almost immediately.
"A Response Team from West Bridgford quickly attended the location, arrested Lawson and did an excellent job of securing evidence.
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"I am pleased he has now been punished and hope he uses this opportunity to change his future behaviour.
"This case should also serve as a reminder of the potential benefits of modern CCTV phone apps, which can be used to alert residents to everyone who approaches their home."
Earlier this year, shocking home security footage caught the moment three would-be armed robbers attempted to break into a man's apartment in the US, only for him to grab his gun and start firing back.
Video caught by a Ring camera caught three men breaking through the front door of a property in Neptune Beach, Florida.
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In the footage, seconds after they enter the apartment, a series of shots can be heard before the three men flee.
Neptune Beach Police said the lone resident was an adult man, who grabbed his gun and fired at the intruders.
Featured Image Credit: SWNS