Joseph Arthur Martinez is seen on a city-installed camera that he allegedly stole. Inset: Martinez booking photo (via Bexar County (Tex.) Sheriff’s Office).
A Texas man accused of stealing a city-owned surveillance camera that snapped photos of him in his home is behind bars.
Joseph Arthur Martinez, 48, is behind bars in Bexar County after being arrested in San Antonio on Monday, police told Law&Crime in an email. Although he was arrested on unrelated charges, Martinez is believed to have nabbed a public camera which apparently continued to take pictures of the would-be thief.
“The Del Rio Police Department, collaborating with local area law enforcement, is actively working to identify an individual who knowingly stole their city-installed game camera,” police in Del Rio announced on Facebook on Monday. “Remarkably, the camera is still sending images to the police department, and it’s believed the suspect is unaware of this.”
Police posted some of the snaps on social media, appearing to depict a then-unidentified Martinez shirtless and on a bed. Another person appears to be in the bed as well, and their face is seen in one of the pictures.
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The public posts asking for help appear to have worked.
“Yesterday afternoon on 11/13/2023, the Live Oak Police Department received leads which aided in the identification of the suspect,” Live Oak Police Det. and Sgt. Jason Andrada told Law&Crime in an email. “It was also discovered on this date; Martinez was taken into custody by the San Antonio Police Department for an unrelated criminal charge and subsequently booked into the Bexar County Jail. Live Oak Detectives were able to follow up with Martinez, and plan to file additional charges on him soon.”
Andrada said that Martinez is currently the primary suspect in the case, but the investigation is active and ongoing.
Bexar County Jail records show that Martinez is currently in custody on a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Bond has been set at $15,000.
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