Phone tracking app leads to the arrest of 2 robbers

CEBU, Philippines — The Naga City police have arrested two robbery suspects after they were tracked down through an application synced in an iPhone they had stolen.

The location of the two suspects identified as certain Third Ponce de Leon and a minor was verified to be in Naya Village, Barangay Tisa, Cebu City where they were arrested.

The third suspect, a certain Jaycob Alia Tapuyao, 35, was arrested in Sitio Almasen, Barangay Calamba, Cebu City.

Police Staff Sergeant Ariel Yap, investigator on case, told The Freeman that they have already filed the robbery charges last Friday against the three suspects they arrested on March 24, 2021.

According to Yap, their operation started when the victim went to their station to report that several items were stolen from her house at dawn while they were all asleep.

Among the items allegedly stolen were two power banks, a laptop, speaker, an iPhone, three phone chargers, wristwatch, jewelries and cash worth P142,362.

"Na track to sa iyang anak (victim/complainant) pinaagi sa iPhone, sa iCloud," said Yap.

Yap said they have immediately conducted the arrest on the same day when the complainants found the pictures on the app taken from the phone stole from them.

These pictures were in sync with the app which also indicates the location it was taken from.

"Na-locate man sa GPS ang location sa (stolen) iPhone, naa daw didto sa Tisa," said Yap.

The stolen items were recovered from the suspects the next day.

Yap also said that on their investigation, Tapuyao was found to be a noted robber in their area.

"Kining duha, wala pa ma ka kuan (background) kay ang nga ginikanan molaban man jud sa ilang mga anak," said Yap. — GMR (FREEMAN)