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Pilot witnesses robbery of own home from the air

Posted at 9:02 PM, Jan 02, 2013
and last updated 2013-01-02 21:02:34-05

(WTVR) - A pilot saw someone trying to break into his house while he flew above his home.

The suspect is a Virginia man, but the incident happened in the sunshine state.

Pilot David Zehtner did what he always does and flew his plane over his house before landing, checking it out from the air.

That's when he spotted someone else checking out his property.

To survey the situation, David dropped the plane 300 feet, hovered over his house and watched a man trying to break into his home.

"Went around to the windows, opening doors - or trying to open doors- looking in windows, and pretty well surveying the house."

David said then he saw 59-year-old Virginia man Gary Haines hook up his trailer to his truck and drive off with it.

But David didn't want to let him get away, he followed him in his plane and called 911.

Police were able to catch him about 40 miles away.

Gary Haines is being charged with grand theft.