Victim Tracks Robbers Using iPhone GPS
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Two suspected robbers might as well have had neon signs on their foreheads telling police last night, "Here I am!"
As WBBM Newsradio 780's Bernie Tafoya explains, parolees Robert Rodriguez and Anthony Diaz allegedly robbed a 33-year-old man at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at 2701 W. Logan Blvd.
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The victim, who lives nearby, went home and logged onto his computer, where he began using an application that uses GPS to track the iPhone that was taken by the robbers. He was not hurt in the robbery, but the two also took cash, his wallet, a credit card and identification, according to Shakespeare District police Capt. Marc Buslik.
When he saw the iPhone was near Altgeld Street and Washtenaw Avenue, he called 911 and told the dispatchers, the captain said. Dispatchers relayed that information to police who began looking for the suspects.
The victim had also given a description of the them and a few minutes later he phoned the dispatchers again to tell them the iPhone was at 1750 N. Western Ave. at a gas station, where police found the two inside a truck, Buslik said.
When police verified the suspects matched the description the victim had given and the items taken were found in the truck, Rodriguez, of the 4800 block of West Armitage Avenue, and Diaz, of the 1400 block of North Lorel Avenue, were arrested.
Both suspects are 22 and were charged with one count each of robbery, according to Buslik. Diaz also had a warrant from the Illinois Department of Corrections, Buslik said.
Both suspects are parolees and one has been charged with robbery before.
