A thief who snatched an iPhone was tracked down thanks to an app his victim had downloaded to the device.
Student Joshua Seager, 18, was able to turn detective to trace the phone using the Find My iPhone app and Google maps.
Joshua, who was helped by sister Melissa, 20, were able to direct police to the thiefs grandmothers house and then to the shop which bought the phone from him. The 15-year-old thief, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has now been locked up for 12 months after appearing at Manchester Crown Court where he admitted robbery.
Barrie Darby, prosecuting, said Joshua was on his way home from a night out when a gang of youths, led by the teenage defendant, asked him for a cigarette.
The boy then threatened to headbutt the victim unless he handed over his phone.
Fearing for his safety, Joshua agreed. But when he got home, he activated manufacturer Apples Find My iPhone programme.
He was able to watch the movements of his phone on a map. The iPhone 4 travelled south from Manchester city centre with the robber to his grans address before moving to a shop at Wilmslow Road in Rusholme where the boy sold it for £150.
A printout of the phones movements was handed to police and the robbers identity was confirmed when police showed the victim a picture. In a statement, Joshua told court: "This incident has left me feeling very shaken up and angry. Nobody has the right to put me in such fear and take my property without permission."
The thief is already serving a two-year sentence handed down earlier this year for similar robbery His new sentence will run alongside that.
After the hearing, Joshua said: "We were constantly on the phone to the police and telling them where it was. They were shocked how we got the phone back."
His mum Angela added: "Were a hi-tech family and we all worked together. Everybody was pulling together; it was a huge family effort.
"It's just brilliant, weve told loads of people and everybody is amazed."
