Ann Arbor man's smartphone locator application helps recover stolen SUV

By John Counts Crime and courts reporter

Posted on Mon, Oct 8, 2012 : 3:45 p.m.

A 21-year-old Ann Arbor man's vehicle was tracked down in Royal Oak after being stolen from outside his residence in the 1000 block of Oakland Avenue Saturday thanks to an application on his smartphone, police said.

Ann Arbor police were dispatched to a home invasion at the address around 1 p.m. The 21-year-old told police he had gone to sleep at 4 a.m. Saturday.

"When he woke up at 11:30 a.m., he noticed items missing (from his residence,)" said Lt. Renee Bush. "He also noticed his car was gone."

A backpack, laptop, spare key and wallet were reported stolen from the man's room, she added. The suspect appeared to have gotten in through an unlocked window, which was still propped open when police arrived on the scene.

Police were able to track down the man's Honda CRV through the man's smartphone, which had a locator application on it, police said.

There was a suspect sleeping in the vehicle when it was found by Royal Oak police, Bush said. Ann Arbor police did not immediately have details on the suspect, who was arrested in connection with the auto theft.

Police continue to investigate.

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