Thief Steals the Wrong Person’s iPad, Then Does Something Really Stupid

An Indianapolis man got more than he bargained for after he reportedly stole an iPad on Thursday. Without a tracking app on the iPad, the victim was helpless to find the device.

That was until the thief did something really stupid: he contacted the victim’s daughter via an iPad application called FaceTime, which allows users to video chat.

The daughter (my friend) took a screenshot of the man during the chat and posted it to Facebook with the caption: “This idiot either stole or purchased my dad’s stolen iPad and had the nerve to FaceTime my brother & I. If you see him please report him to the IMPD non-emergency line at 317-327-3811. Help me make this punks mug go viral!!! Share & share & share!!! #Thief #idiot #ipad #viral #likeandshare #share #ipadThief #YouStoleFromAPreacher #Indy #Nap #Indianapolis #iCantStandThieves”:

Within hours, the image had been shared 60 times and my friend had received several emails with the suspect’s name, workplace, and shift.

She said, “Dad called the police who said they would only escort him if he saw the guy. He went inside the Shell and immediately saw the guy.” The police accompanied the  victim into the gas station and asked him to return the device, which he did.

This is how to use technology and social networks to fight crime! Maybe the NSA could learn a thing or two from this.