A Canadian couple watched in horror on a web cam from more than 2,000 miles away as a man broke into their Florida vacation home on Fort Myers Beach.

The couple turned Saturday’s surveillance tape over to authorities which led to the arrest of Thomas Hinton less than 24 hours after the burglary.

Hinton, 45, of North Fort Myers, Florida, is charged with burglary and grand theft and was jailed on a $160,000 bond.

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A couple watched on a web cam from more than 2,000 miles away as a man broke into their Florida vacation

The couple, from Ontario, watched in horror from Canada, as a man broke into their home on Fort Myers Beach

The couple reported the crime from their home in Ontario on Saturday night after catching the burglar in the act on their web cam, the News-Press of Fort Myers reported.

They reported seeing a man in a tank top and denim shorts carrying a backpack moving around their home at around 11pm on the camera they set up inside their beach home.

According to the News-Press, the burglar entered the property twice that night.

He took his time searching through every part of the home and stole their daughter’s purse as well as a television worth $700, the couple revealed.

The surveillance tape led to the arrest of Thomas Hinton (pictured right). Staci Denny (left) who owns a home-watch company revealed she had checked on the house for the owners just four hours before the break-in

The couple told how they felt violated as they watched the burglar rummage through their belongings from miles away in Canada.

‘I immediately felt sick to my stomach,’ the homeowner told NBC2.

‘We could hear him going through all of the drawers and we could see him throwing clothing on the floor.’

She added the burglar then went through every cupboard in their pantry and revealed they plan to install another camera to increase their security.

‘He obviously did not see the camera,’ she said.

The homeowners said they felt violated as they watched the burglar search through every part of their home

The couple said the suspect stole their daughter's purse and also made off with a television worth $700

‘When I told Lee County that we had that, that was a big reason, I think, that they caught him.’

Now she is urging other homeowners to invest in security cameras, adding that hers was a 'Godsend'.

And neighbors in the gated community have said that they have noticed strangers lurking near their homes in the past.

Meanwhile, Staci Denny, who owns a home-watch company and had checked on the property on behalf of her clients just four hours before the break-in, described it a 'creepy.'

She told NBC2 that the burglar rang the door bell six times before attempting to break in through the front door.

The couple added that the burglar clearly did not see the hidden camera and added it was a 'Godsend'

The suspect rang the front door bell several times before breaking in through the back door (pictured)

When he was unable to get in the front door, he went around to the back door of the home and pried open the sliding glass door, she added.

A deputy stopped the suspect on Sunday because he had failed to stop at an intersection.

After recognizing Hinton as the burglary suspect, he was arrested.

Lee County Sheriff’s Office said Hinton is also a suspect in five other burglaries that have taken place in the Fort Myers Beach area.