I love reading stories like this. It's too bad, however, that they weren't able to get everything back.
http://www.katu.com/news/local/124945009.html
PORTLAND, Ore. - Two men were caught red-handed with a stolen iPhone and other items on Saturday after a GPS tracking service on the phone led deputies to them, a Multnomah County Sheriffs Office spokeswoman said.
Saturday afternoon 18-year-old Lilli Gordon and her mother pulled into Rooster Rock State Park for a quick pit stop. They were visiting from California and were on their way to the airport to fly home.
While they were away from the vehicle, someone broke into their car and stole several items, including Lilli's Apple iPhone 4.
"When the incident happened I was really upset and I was pretty hysterical and crying. But on the way to the airport I was like 'oh my God, if the phone is on my dad can track where it is," she said.
Lilli had just gotten the new phone a few days before the trip. When she bought it the clerk recommended she activate a program called Mobile Me that can track the phone through GPS.
Apple users can use Mobile Me to track their iPhone, iPod or iPad if its lost or stolen. (Apple has plans to discontinue the Mobile Me service, although the phone location service will still be active through their new iCloud service.)
Lowell Gordon, Lilli's father, was able to bring up the phone's location on a map from his home in San Diego. He called deputies and gave them his login information for the Mobile Me site.
A deputy in Portland logged into Mobile Me from the computer in his patrol car and used the tracking map to find the exact location of the phone. The deputy then met up with two Portland Police officers and all three went to the phones last location in the 3900 block of North Kiska Street.
The deputy and officers searched a car at the house and found the victim's empty wallet and her stolen text book, but not the missing iPhone.
They arrested Nicholas Barnard, 42, at the house, who was charged with one count of theft and one count of unlawful entry into a motor vehicle.
After dropping the suspect off at jail, the Lowell Gordon called the deputy and said the phone was on the move and he was tracking it. The deputy again logged into Mobile Me from his car and got real-time information about the phones location.
Another deputy near the phone arrived at the intersection Mobile Me directed him to and found three men sitting underneath a tree near the corner of North Lombard Street and North Chicago Ave. As the deputy was talking with the men, the husband sent an alert to the phone and it rang in the suspects pocket.
The deputy took the phone and arrested Lonnie Rogers, 45, who was charged with one count of theft. He also was wanted for a parole violation.
"He was able to recover it, which is pretty amazing," Lilli said.
She will soon get the phone back, but her $2,000 Apple computer is still missing, along with her and her mother's credit cards and driver's licenses.
"I wish they had (Mobile Me) on the computer, too," Gordon said.
Lilli and her mother flew home on Saturday, but had to navigate airport security with no ID cards. They were subjected to extra screening and TSA agents asked them a series of personal questions to verify their identity.
"At least the guy is in custody and we can help other people find their stuff," Lilli said. "It's a lot to deal with. I've been trying to be positive. No one was hurt and we're all back together."
Lt. Mary Lindstrand said this incident is a good reminder for people to lock up their belongings, especially when in the Columbia River Gorge, which is a notorious location for thefts. She also said its a good reminder to activate a tracking service on your electronic devices if its available.
People who have it dont think about using it, so this is perfect, she said.
http://www.katu.com/news/local/124945009.html
PORTLAND, Ore. - Two men were caught red-handed with a stolen iPhone and other items on Saturday after a GPS tracking service on the phone led deputies to them, a Multnomah County Sheriffs Office spokeswoman said.
Saturday afternoon 18-year-old Lilli Gordon and her mother pulled into Rooster Rock State Park for a quick pit stop. They were visiting from California and were on their way to the airport to fly home.
While they were away from the vehicle, someone broke into their car and stole several items, including Lilli's Apple iPhone 4.
"When the incident happened I was really upset and I was pretty hysterical and crying. But on the way to the airport I was like 'oh my God, if the phone is on my dad can track where it is," she said.
Lilli had just gotten the new phone a few days before the trip. When she bought it the clerk recommended she activate a program called Mobile Me that can track the phone through GPS.
Apple users can use Mobile Me to track their iPhone, iPod or iPad if its lost or stolen. (Apple has plans to discontinue the Mobile Me service, although the phone location service will still be active through their new iCloud service.)
Lowell Gordon, Lilli's father, was able to bring up the phone's location on a map from his home in San Diego. He called deputies and gave them his login information for the Mobile Me site.
A deputy in Portland logged into Mobile Me from the computer in his patrol car and used the tracking map to find the exact location of the phone. The deputy then met up with two Portland Police officers and all three went to the phones last location in the 3900 block of North Kiska Street.
The deputy and officers searched a car at the house and found the victim's empty wallet and her stolen text book, but not the missing iPhone.
They arrested Nicholas Barnard, 42, at the house, who was charged with one count of theft and one count of unlawful entry into a motor vehicle.
After dropping the suspect off at jail, the Lowell Gordon called the deputy and said the phone was on the move and he was tracking it. The deputy again logged into Mobile Me from his car and got real-time information about the phones location.
Another deputy near the phone arrived at the intersection Mobile Me directed him to and found three men sitting underneath a tree near the corner of North Lombard Street and North Chicago Ave. As the deputy was talking with the men, the husband sent an alert to the phone and it rang in the suspects pocket.
The deputy took the phone and arrested Lonnie Rogers, 45, who was charged with one count of theft. He also was wanted for a parole violation.
"He was able to recover it, which is pretty amazing," Lilli said.
She will soon get the phone back, but her $2,000 Apple computer is still missing, along with her and her mother's credit cards and driver's licenses.
"I wish they had (Mobile Me) on the computer, too," Gordon said.
Lilli and her mother flew home on Saturday, but had to navigate airport security with no ID cards. They were subjected to extra screening and TSA agents asked them a series of personal questions to verify their identity.
"At least the guy is in custody and we can help other people find their stuff," Lilli said. "It's a lot to deal with. I've been trying to be positive. No one was hurt and we're all back together."
Lt. Mary Lindstrand said this incident is a good reminder for people to lock up their belongings, especially when in the Columbia River Gorge, which is a notorious location for thefts. She also said its a good reminder to activate a tracking service on your electronic devices if its available.
People who have it dont think about using it, so this is perfect, she said.