Phone ‘locator app’ snares burglar who raided Dublin flat

A burglar was caught after the man he robbed used a “locator app” to track down his stolen mobile phone, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard.

John Power (28), of Parlickstown Gardens, Blanchardstown, was jailed for two years after pleading guilty to burglary and the unlawful taking of a car at Baggot Court in Dublin on June 22nd last.

Garda Enda Dowling told Derek Cooney BL, prosecuting, that the occupiers of the property alerted gardaí after waking to find their home had been burgled and their car stolen.

One of the items stolen was a mobile phone which had a “locator app” which said the phone was in a laneway off Parnell Street.

Gardaí attended at the location and found Power sleeping rough there but did not find the phone.

Later the victim noticed the location of the phone had not changed from Chapel Lane and went there himself. He saw Power with a Nike bag that he recognised as his own and alerted gardaí.

Stolen items

Garda Dowling said they searched the bag and recovered mobile phones, a laptop and tablet as well as other items stolen during the burglary.

CCTV from the Baggot Court and Chapel Lane areas was recovered and showed Power opening the victim’s car with the key fob and driving off.

The footage also showed the car pulling up at Chapel Lane where Power hid some items before driving off again in the car. He later returned on a bike and slept rough in the laneway.

Power, who has 75 previous convictions, made no admissions during garda interview and has been in custody since the date of the offence.

Keith Spencer BL, defending, said Power had a turbulent upbringing and fell into substance abuse when aged 14. He said Power first went into custody in 2005 and had spent almost his entire adult life in prison since.

Judge Martin Nolan said it was a “non violent” burglary and a “crime of opportunity.” He noted Power’s serious history of offending as well as his early guilty plea and difficult past.

He said it seemed Power was attempting to rehabilitate himself in custody. He imposed a three year sentence and suspended the final year on strict conditions “in hope of reform.”