While your computer’s webcam can be a source of scariness if someone is watching who shouldn’t be, it could also be a valuable witness when things go awry. To wit: Police in Tempe, Ariz. have arrested one suspect and are looking for another, after online gamers from around the world watched a home invasion unfolding live via their fellow player’s webcam.

According to the Tempe Police Department, two men broke into a home in the early morning hours while the woman was online playing Dota 2 and livestreaming it as part of the game, reports AZFamily.com.

Players watched as the man broke in the door, perhaps looking for weapons, police say, and one suspect who stepped into the frame could be seen with a weapon.

She’s a popular player, and as such, plenty of people were watching — but the problem was that no one knew who to call for help.

“At that point gamers from around the world were watching the home invasion occur while trying to contact the corresponding law enforcement agency,” a police spokesman said. The suspects were reportedly in the home for almost 15 minutes before the camera was disconnected.

Eventually a friend of the victim who knew where she lived called the cops. When police arrived on the scene, one suspect was still there and fled when officers tried to speak to him. He was arrested after a short chase, while the second suspect is still on the loose.

Online gamers witness home invasion; 1 suspect in custody, 1 on the loose [AZFamily.com]

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