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We’ve shared a lot of stories here at RMT dealing with stolen iPhones leading to captured criminals thanks to the GPS technology built inside.  This was the case in Chicago on December 13th, when a couple of men robbed a gentleman just getting off a Blue Line train at 2:40 in the morning, taking a handful of items including the victim’s iPhone.

The man was walking home from the train station when he was approached by the men who threatened him with a knife and demanded specific items including his phone.  “Give me your bag, I know you have a phone, give me your phone,” police report one of the suspects saying.  The victim gave the men what they wanted, and they escaped on foot.

It was one of the police officers who had the idea of using the GPS to their advantage, using his own iPhone to locate the victim’s phone.  The phone was located, and after alerting an officer in the area of North and Damon Avenues (the area the phone was tracked to), two men were spotted who matched their description.  18 minutes after the authorities were initially alerted about the robbery, the suspects were arrested.

The victim positively identified the men as the thieves, and the iPhone was located nearby under a garbage can.  The two men, ages 18 and 19, are currently being held on aggravated robbery charges.  A court date has not yet been set.  It is also unclear as to when criminals will figure out that they can quite easily be captured thanks to the GPS technology built inside smartphones.

Photo Courtesy of Tony Buser