Police: Stolen computer helps track burglary suspects
SEATTLE - Determined detectives and some handy computer software are credited with cracking a burglary case that landed a man and woman in jail.
Officers responded to a home in the 1400 block of 35th Avenue in central Seattle around 1:20 a.m. Saturday after receiving a report of a burglary. Sometime between Friday night and 1:00 a.m. Saturday police say the suspects broke into the home and took off with more than $4,000 worth of items, including an Apple Mac Book computer that happened to have a tracking application installed.
Det. Mark Jamieson, with Seattle Police, says with help from the victim detectives were able to track the stolen computer to a downtown Best Western hotel. Several officers were sent to the hotel in hopes of finding the suspects. When they knocked on the door no one answered but Det. Jamieson says the officers could hear noises inside and the light was on. Police monitored the room while a search warrant was obtained.
Two suspects, a man and woman, were eventually taken into custody.
Inside the room officers found the stolen computer, along with an e-book, a stolen jacket, and one of the suspects had nearly $2,000 on hand. Officers managed to locate the owner of the e-book who apparently didn't know it had been taken from his apartment. All of the items were placed into evidence.
Both suspects, a 21-year-old man and 33-year-old woman, were booked into the King County Jail.
ACLU stepping in to defend against invasion of privacy of the perps in 3....2.....1.....
 @Vince Assuming the information in this article is correct: I highly doubt ACLU would step into this case since the invasion of privacy was not violate.  It would have been violated if the police just busted into the motel room without a search warrant.  It would be impossible for the suspects to "flush down" the evidence (stolen laptops get wet?), so it didn't qualify for an exigent circumstance to enter the premises.  The only cases where it would be "an invasion of privacy" (and ACLU would step in) would be suspect A is killing suspect B, fire in the room or evidence (like drugs) is being destroyed.  Also, judges in King County would not have signed off on the warrant if no probable cause was established by the lead detective or Prosecuting attorney assigned to the case. Any criminal defense lawyer (or any lawyer at ACLU Seattle as a matter of fact) would tell you the same thing...as long as the Prosecuting Attorney can establish tie the suspect inside the house through fingerprint analysis and/or witness (like people or cameras), these two suspects will likely take a plea deal.Â
The ACLU protested the use of a less lethal microwave gun that could disable a car from 600ft away eliminating the need for high speed car chases.
I love it. The more this happens the more thieves will have too think twice before taking something that doesn't belong to them. I would install this on everything valuable to me if it was practical...and I wouldnt be calling the police if it were stolen. Reminds me of Vincent Vega in Pulp Fiction " It'd been worth him doing it just so I could've caught him doing it.
Some wacko King county judge will probably throw out the arrest because using the software gives the police an unfair advantage over the criminal. Can't allow that....the advantage always has to go to the criminal.
Wonder what else they've stolen. This is only the tip of the iceberg for the two of them. Glad they got caught and hope they are locked-up for awhile.
Surprise! Big brother is watching the scum these days.
Tie both of their feet up to a tree stump and take a sledgehammer to both their ankles. By NO MEANS should they be allowed to walk upright again.
For Android phones, PCs, and other devices there's a nifty free app for this too:Â https://preyproject.com/. There's even a Mac version available.
The program that is being referenced in this article is probably Apple's Find my Mac/Find My iPhone feature that comes with the Mac OS. This is not the first time that the program has helped SPD find stolen property and apprehend  a suspect. Almost exactly 1 yr. ago a 14 yr old boy assisted the police in tracking a suspect on 3rd Ave. when a burglar had stolen items in his home. http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2017263569_burglary18m.htmlAn additional stand -a-lone software package for Macs is Undercover from http://www.orbicule.com. This is a very robust program for assisting in recovery of stolen Macs.
 http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2017263569_burglary18m.html
you figure they'd come up with an app to take off tracking apps.
 @chandler If they could unlock the phone or device then it would be easy to remove a tracking app but if the device is locked the only way to deal with is to completely wipe it. However, some anti-theft technology now can even get around having the storage wiped as the anti-theft software is built into the firmware. Intel AMT with newer Ultrabooks are an example.
I wonder there is a way to put this type of app on Smart TV's too. I don't own one but if I did I would want the app on there too.
 @Rockberry Unless it's a small Smart TV most tweakers won't bother stealing it. Even my 50" plasma would be a two person job to carry out and would require a larger SUV to transport. Most Smart TV's run on Android based software though and my Android HTC smart phone has Lookout Security enabled which allows me to track the phone.
@Ankle Biter @Rockberry Don't be so sure about that. Means and opportunity can allow someone to take much larger items.
Hey there crooks, if you are reading this. Come and steal my stuff, I have an app for my things. I want to see you in jail
 @R. My app is named Gunther.
 @R. What things are you referring to, exactly?
Why are you so interested in what I have?
If you are a stupid bad guy, technology is not your friend.
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Best way to solve a robbery is the do it yourself method (an app) then let the police apprehend the suspects. (dirty work)
The criminals will be back out on the streets before the victims get their stuff back. 2-1 odds these perps won't show up to their court date(s) if let out on bail.Â
You will get the stuff back. It may take some time, but the evidence does not become the property of the police. We're you serious?
 @DTMD When I need my stuff NOW, "getting it back 'eventually' " doesn't cut it.
"All of the items were placed into evidence."
So what's the difference if some perp steals your stuff or the police do? You're still out of your stuff either way.
 @Glassman If a piece of evidence cannot be adequately shown via photograph in court, it must be held so that it can be examined by the judge/jury/attorneys, etc, in order to prove or disprove the case. Owners of stolen property that is being held as evidence have to fill out forms to get it back and it can take some time and effort, but if they just gave them all back their stuff after photographing it, that might not be good enough to obtain a conviction, and then the perp would walk free.
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http://www.ehow.com/how_6008959_back-property-held-police-evidence.html
I have this on my iPad and computer as well. This is awesome!