Cellphone GPS Leads Police to Burglary Suspects

A GPS tracking system in a cellphone that was reported stolen led Baldwin Park Police Department officers to two suspects just hours after they allegedly broke into a home, said Lt. David Reynoso. Both were arrested.

BPPD officers responded to a burglary call around 5 a.m. Jan. 1 in the 3500 block of Stichman Avenue.

The woman who made the call told the police her purse probably was stolen while she was sleeping, and inside was a cellphone with a GPS tracking device.

The software tracked the phone to a nearby restaurant on Ramona Boulevard and later to a home in the 14800 block of Pacific Avenue, Reynoso said.

Police arrived at the home and arrested Alberto Zuniga, a 40-year-old Baldwin Park resident, after an officer dialed the woman's phone number and her cellphone rang inside Zuniga's pocket.

Minutes later, Baldwin Park resident Manuel Alfaro, 28, arrived at the house carrying the woman's stolen credit cards. Alfaro also was arrested.

"Technology helps sometimes in both sides," Reynoso said. "In this case, helps to arrest suspects of a crime."

Zuniga and Alfaro are being held at the Baldwin Park Jail for suspicion of possession of stolen property.

Zuniga's bail was set at $46,502, and Alfaro's bail was set at $20,000. Both will be arraigned tomorrow at West Covina Municipal Court.