Livia
03-22-2007, 10:56 AM
http://www.kxan.com/Global/story.asp?s=6240329
Photos Incriminate Lake Austin Burglary Suspects
March 16, 2007 10:36 PM
Last month, a string of rental cabins were broken into, and more than $5,000 of property was stolen along Lake Austin.
Solving the crime may be relatively easy, because the alleged criminals left a key piece of evidence at the crime scene that's better than a fingerprint, perhaps making this one of the easiest cases to solve.
Nine suspected burglars ransacked the special-events cabins on Lake Austin, and they left behind a digital camera with pictures taken that night.
"The pictures actually show these people inside the cabins and around the cabins, so we know the camera was used during their escapade," said Roger Wade of the Travis County Sheriff's Office.
Cabins were pried open, vandalized and more than $5,000 worth of fine liquors and catering equipment was stolen.
The owner of the property is video game mogul Richard Garriott.
"Not only did they consume as much as they could on the premises, based on the photographs, but then they also clearly had backpacks that you can see in the pictures plus they stole a variety of things like rolling ice chests in order to basically clean the whole thing out," said Garriott.
Police said you'd be wrong to think the pictures don't prove anything, because they could have been taken anywhere. But the property that was broken into can clearly be seen, and the pictures put those people right at the scene of the crime.
"Even a fingerprint doesn't necessarily lead you very far, unless you happen to have a picture of the person," Wade said. "Not only a picture, but a picture of them doing it."
In the picture three of the partiers are seen hamming it up for the camera. Police said their next pose might be for the mug shot.
"To say they're stupid criminals, they're stupid for doing the crime in the first place, but, yeah, it's a big mistake," Wade said.
Photos Incriminate Lake Austin Burglary Suspects
March 16, 2007 10:36 PM
Last month, a string of rental cabins were broken into, and more than $5,000 of property was stolen along Lake Austin.
Solving the crime may be relatively easy, because the alleged criminals left a key piece of evidence at the crime scene that's better than a fingerprint, perhaps making this one of the easiest cases to solve.
Nine suspected burglars ransacked the special-events cabins on Lake Austin, and they left behind a digital camera with pictures taken that night.
"The pictures actually show these people inside the cabins and around the cabins, so we know the camera was used during their escapade," said Roger Wade of the Travis County Sheriff's Office.
Cabins were pried open, vandalized and more than $5,000 worth of fine liquors and catering equipment was stolen.
The owner of the property is video game mogul Richard Garriott.
"Not only did they consume as much as they could on the premises, based on the photographs, but then they also clearly had backpacks that you can see in the pictures plus they stole a variety of things like rolling ice chests in order to basically clean the whole thing out," said Garriott.
Police said you'd be wrong to think the pictures don't prove anything, because they could have been taken anywhere. But the property that was broken into can clearly be seen, and the pictures put those people right at the scene of the crime.
"Even a fingerprint doesn't necessarily lead you very far, unless you happen to have a picture of the person," Wade said. "Not only a picture, but a picture of them doing it."
In the picture three of the partiers are seen hamming it up for the camera. Police said their next pose might be for the mug shot.
"To say they're stupid criminals, they're stupid for doing the crime in the first place, but, yeah, it's a big mistake," Wade said.