iPhone GPS Gets Robbers Arrested

Three suspects were arrested for robbery, access device fraud and receiving stolen property after their victim got their location using the GPS feature in his stolen iPhone. The man was able to tell the police officers exactly where the robbers had been and what they did with his credit card.

A man walking along Amberson Avenue in Shadyside, Pittsburgh last Saturday morning at 1:00 a.m. was stopped by two strangers who threatened him with a pellet gun and asked him to empty his pockets. After seeing the credit cards in the victim's wallet, the attackers asked him for his PIN (personal identification number), which the latter gave without too much thought.

The robbers also took the man's iPhone, an action they would later end up regretting. As soon as he was told to "get out of here," the victim wasted no time and ran home to call the police. However, as it turns out, he was also computer and technology literate enough to take the investigation into his own hands.

According to Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, when the police arrived at his apartment, the man was on the phone with his bank disabling his credit cards. He was also able to tell officers his attackers' every move by using his computer to tap into the stolen iPhone's GPS (Global Positioning System).

As the officers who responded to the call indicated, the victim told them that the robbers first withdrew $500 using one of his credit cards. Their next stop was a gas station in Homewood, where they spent $42.60 on gas, before heading to a Wal-Mart in North Versailles.

Their final destination was an Eat'n Park where police also caught up with them and identified them as Bryant Rather, 22, of West Mifflin, and Brent Ray Potter, 22, of Swissvale. The two were accompanied by a third man, Myron Knox Jr., 22, of Homewood, and had the victim's belongings in their possession.

All three men were charged with two counts of access device fraud, criminal conspiracy, receiving stolen property and possessing instruments of crime. Rather and Potter were additionally charged with one count of robbery.