India, Feb. 20 -- In a scene straight out of the classic movie Home Alone, 56-year-old Paul Howell tiptoed through the darkness behind a house in Bondicar Terrace, Blyth, at around 3 a.m. But instead of making a clean getaway, he walked straight into a booby trap worthy of Kevin McCallister himself. A carefully placed string sent a bucket of water toppling over, drenching his shoes and sending him into a panicked retreat. The homeowners, fed up with repeated break-ins, later spotted the overturned bucket and, much like checking Kevin's battle plan, reviewed their CCTV-uncovering their unwitting burglar's slapstick misstep.

Recognising the bungling intruder, they alerted the police, who quickly identified Howell as a prolific offender, re...