Homeowner: Burglar May Have Taken Photos After Stealing iPad from Durham Home

State police are investigating whether a burglar who broke into a home last month on Haddam Quarter Road in Durham took photos of himself and his family with an iPad stolen from the home.

Resident Michael Good said the device and a television were taken from his home on the morning of Nov. 26.

"They put a crowbar to my door even though it was dead bolted and just opened it with no problem at all. I think it slowed them down a second or two," Good told Patch.

While police have not returned phone calls about the investigation, Good said his family made a stunning discovery on the day of the break-in.

At 12:32 p.m., within just a couple of hours of the burglary, several photos were taken on the stolen iPad and automatically uploaded to Good's iCloud account.

One of the photos, Good says, more than likely shows the man who burglarized his home while the other photos appear to show the man's children, along with his wife or girlfriend.

"They did turn off the GPS on my iPad. Even kindergarten robbers know to turn off the GPS. I could have prevented that if I had password protected my iPad," said Good, who was able to erase all of the information on the device that evening. 

Investigators planned to share the photos with other law enforcement officials around the state in an effort to identify the man.

"They didn't steal anything that had sentimental value to us, and if they had then it really would have been much more traumatic. But fortunately they just took electronics that I replaced in a few days," said Good, who has since installed a security system at his home.

Meanwhile investigators are also looking into a Nov. 27 burglary on Parmelee Hill Road with similar circumstances.

According to the homeowner, burglars used a crow bar to gain entry through a back door before taking an iPad, iPhone and a small amount of cash.

"I have to say, I was totally stunned at how easily they got in. It might as well have been unlocked," the homeowner, who asked not to be identified, told Patch.

"The increased awareness for everyone in the community will mean that everyone is watching a little more closely and paying attention and not letting things go unnoticed," she said.

While a witness was able to provide police with a description of a vehicle spotted at the scene of the Haddam Quarter Road burglary — a green, older model foreign made compact car — no arrests have been made.

Anyone with information should call State Police at 860-399-2100.