Family chases after iPhone thief

[Hum]

Seattle family pursues iPhone thieves using "find my phone" app until warned by a 911 operator to stop.

 

At first, even the 911 operator was surprised. A Seattle family that had just had an iPhone stolen from their car in this parking lot was now in hot pursuit of the bad guys, by using the "Find my phone" feature, which allows people to see where their phone is on a map.

 

Okay, go ahead and pull over and stop following that vehicle. Okay. That's totally dangerous and you don't know if they have any weapons.

 

Reporter: But the family kept going. They followed the stolen iPhone through city streets from this park, eventually to this parking lot and then to this one. But the police wouldn't meet up with them to make an arrest and the 911 operator wasn't happy.

Ma'am, let me tell you something. Hold on a second. I've been on the phone with someone just like this that was killed over a cell phone.

 

And I really don't want that to happen to you, okay? It's just really not worth it. Reporter: The victims reluctantly gave up.

If you are in the situation again, would you be tracking and following, or -- Yeah, I'd track him. Reporter: You still would? I bet you would, too.

 

video

[Depicus]

If you wonder why the public take the law into their own hands is perhaps because the police won't.

[Nick H. Supervisor]

If you wonder why the public take the law into their own hands is perhaps because the police won't.

Pretty much my thinking. The operator was right to tell them to stop the pursuit, but if I was then told that the police were not going to come and meet me I would tell the operator that I will continue to follow the car, wary that I'm not going to receive any support.

[techbeck]

Phone isnt worth it, period.  And cops cannot always be there for something so insignificant and especially if there are other things going on.  Take better care of your stuff, dont leave it visible in your car, and you will have no problem.

[Mr.XXIV]

Phone isnt worth it, period.  And cops cannot always be there for something so insignificant and especially if there are other things going on.  Take better care of your stuff, dont leave it visible in your car, and you will have no problem.

 

And continue to let the bad do bad. Great way for the police to set an example for morality.

[techbeck]

And continue to let the bad do bad. Great way for the police to set an example for morality.

 

Not what I said or meant.  A phone is not worth the possible personal/bodily harm from following the person who stole it.  An material object is not work someones life.

[Hum]

I want a 'this iPhone will self-destruct in 5 seconds ....' app. :shifty:

[123456789A]

Unless they were prepared to fight the thieves to the death for their phone, they shouldn't bother chasing after them.