From ‘find my phone’ to ‘find my thief’

'Find My Phone' app in stolen iPhone helped probing armed robbery.

Police in California probing an armed robbery arrested two suspects by using the “Find My Phone” app on the victim’s stolen iPhone to locate the device, a spokeswoman said.

The female victim told officers that a gunman had taken her purse and iPhone, which had the tracking application installed, said Norma Eisenman of the Los Angeles Police Department.

“A local citizen offered his assistance, and allowed the use of his computer, which allowed the officers to track the iPhone to the vicinity of 11th Street and Ardmore Avenue,” Eisenman said.

Police went to the area, about four miles (6.5 kilometres) from the crime scene, and a short time later, saw a man matching the suspect’s description.

“The male was detained, and officers discovered an iPhone in his pocket,” Eisenman said. “The victim’s cell number was dialled and it rang,” confirming that the phone was the stolen device. Jason Topper, 34, was arrested for armed robbery, and the purse and a replica gun were also found after the incident last week.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 26^th, 2011.