Find My iPad Feature Led to Burglars’ Downfall: Sheriff

SARASOTA, FL — Stealing electronic devices that have self-tracking technology equipped can be a crapshoot. At least that’s what a man and woman from Miami found out on Sunday after Sarasota County Sheriff’s deputies say they swiped an iPad from a woman’s Toyota Rav4.

According to the agency, the Toyota was parked at the University Town Center Mall around 4:30 p.m. Oct. 30 when its owner noticed her briefcase missing. Inside that briefcase was her laptop and iPad.

When deputies arrived on the scene, they realized the iPad just might offer them an advantage in tracking the suspects. Deputies asked the victim to log into the “Find My iPad” app from her phone. The app was able to ping the iPad to a location on Fruitville Road, a media release from the agency said.

Deputies were able to track the device to a vehicle that was being driven by Cristian Kali, 38. When they pulled Kali over, the missing black briefcase was “in plain sight,” the release said. “The victim then triggered an alarm on her iPad, which made the device go off inside the vehicle.”

Kali and the passenger of the vehicle Sofia Labbeurra, 23, were promptly arrested. Deputies say Kali now faces burglary of an unoccupied conveyance charges. Labbeurra was charged for being a principal to a burglary of an unoccupied conveyance. Both also face charges for allegedly providing false information to law enforcement.

Both Kali and Labbeurra are from Miami. Sarasota deputies say they also had outstanding warrants from other law enforcement agencies.

Booking photos courtesy of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office