News

Burgling child's play with model chopper

February 08, 2010 Edition 2

TAIPEI: Taiwan police have arrested two men accused of using a toy helicopter to search homes before burgling them, a newspaper reported yesterday.

Taipei police arrested Chang Chen-cheng and seized the model aircraft, plus stolen goods, at his home, and are searching for his partner-in-crime, Ah Hsiang. The pair have allegedly committed a dozen burglaries using the toy.

Police said Chang and Ah Hsiang would drive around northern Taiwan to search for victims, then release the radio-controlled helicopter. It would fly to the window of an apartment, take photos of the inside, and send the images to a computer inside their car. If there was no one in the apartment, they would break in.

The helicopter was powered by a battery, measured 21cm and could remain airborne for 12 minutes. - Sapa-dpa