Anti-theft app catches out young iPad thief
A 15-year-old thief unwittingly led police to a friend’s home after stealing an iPad with an anti- theft app installed.
The iPad was taken from an unlocked car on Gordon Tce last Tuesday night, along with a wallet.
The owner was able to show police the exact location of the stolen device using the Find My iPad app.
GPS led police to a Waharoa address, where the iPad was recovered and a 15-year-old Matamata boy was arrested.
The stolen
wallet
was later found on Drive.
The teenager will be appearing in the Morrinsville Youth Court.
Sergeant Graham McGurk said the theft was a typical example of offenders being presented with opportunity.
Cash and carry items such as tablets, laptops, phones and wallets were easy targets for burglars and should not be left in plain sight, he said.
‘‘Offenders may not be in particular looking to steal but, when an opportunity arises they will take it.’’
Mr McGurk compared this type of theft with peo-
Centennial ple buying ‘‘Lotto tickets, Crunchie bars or magazines’’ on impulse at the supermarket.
He said thieves would often carry out crime in places familiar to them.
‘‘What happens is you get these corridors of crime, where offenders may regularly walk home from work or their friends’ house or wherever,’’ he said.
‘‘They may not set out to steal anything but once that opportunity is there . . .’’
He urged people to make sure their properties and cars were secure and to keep valuable items out of sight where possible.
Two 16-year-old boys were referred to youth aid for causing wilful damage the previous weekend. The damage included smashed windows at Matamata College and the painting of swastikas at the reserve by the Gatehouse.
Wednesday, October 30
Police were called to reports of two people arguing on Broadway. Two people were spoken to on Tower Rd and a man was taken to the police station. While police were apprehending him, one officer inadvertently had his finger broken.
Thursday, October 31
A Gladstone Rd address was entered and an MP3 player, camera and video camera were taken. The occupants woke to find the back door open.
Friday, November 1
The window of a service station on Broadway was smashed. The following morning, a Matamata man came into the police station and admitted breaking the window. He explained he had been drinking most of the day and kicked the window after having an argument with a friend. Police have given him the opportunity to contact the owner and make reparations before taking any further action.
Saturday, November 2
Matamata
police
asked
Sunday, November 3
Called to a car crashed into a lamp post outside the fire station on Peria Rd.
Called to a car in a ditch on Buckland Rd.
Called to a car smoking on Hinuera Rd.
Tanker called to a scrub fire at Kakahu Rd.
Responded to a medical call.
for
assistance from Cambridge and Morrinsville after a number of disorder incidents between the town clock and the Z petrol station roundabout were reported. Police are investigating the assault of a local man, who was king hit from behind for no apparent reason. The man was knocked to the ground and when he tried to walk away, the offender followed and punched him in the face. Police are trying to locate a 24-year-old man they understand to be the offender.
A man heard someone breaking into his car on Vosper St and ended up chasing two offenders down the road. Police later caught two boys, aged 16 and 17, in possession of the items stolen from the car. The 17-yearold was arrested for theft and will appear in the Morrinsville District Court and the 16-year-old was referred to youth aid.
A car crashed into a streetlight on Peria Rd, knocking it over. The following morning, a 31-year-old man came into the police station to report it. He claimed he had fallen asleep after dropping his work mates home. The car was written off.
Sunday, November 3
Overnight, the garage door of a Price Tce address was jimmied open and food was stolen from a freezer.
Overnight, two unlocked vehicles on Dawson St were searched. Nothing was taken.
Responded to a medical call – cardiac arrest.
Sunday, October 27
Called
to a
car
crashed
Called to a Tauranga Rd.
Called to a truck off the road on Tauranga Rd.
car
fire on