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Another iPhone Mugger Tracked Down by Tech Savvy Officers, Police Say

By Sonja Sharp | March 2, 2012 2:15pm
Another savvy New York City cop busted a smartphone thief using the Find My iPhone App March 1, 2012.
Another savvy New York City cop busted a smartphone thief using the Find My iPhone App March 1, 2012.
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Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

MANHATTAN — A quick thinking police officer used smart phone technology to track a suspected iPhone thief, the second time in less than a month tech-savvy cops have used the in-built gps devices to fight crime.

An alleged mugger, 19, grabbed a woman's iPhone while she was walking and texting in SoHo near Wooster and Prince streets about 7:20 p.m. Thursday, police said.

While other cops canvassed the area, an officer using the Find My iPhone App was able to track down the alleged thief and relay his location to fellow officers, who arrested him less than 30 minutes after the initial report. 

In  January, Officer Robert Garland used a young woman's iCloud account to track down a Brooklyn man who allegedly snatched her iPhone from inside a Midtown department store. Officer Brian Sheil of Queens also used the iCloud feature to arrest an alleged armed mugger in February. 

Despite an overall drop in crime, police reported this week that smartphone thefts are up — at least in the subways, where electronics now account for 47 percent of all robberies.