Stolen iPad - Just because you know where it is, doesn't mean you can recover it

One of my students had her iPad stolen - we located it using the MobileMe application on the iPad and reported it to the Boston Police and to the Suffolk University Police, showing exactly where it was at a house in East Boston. This device costs $600, making it grand larceny.

The Suffolk University police were impressed by the technology.  They were amazed that we could actually see where the iPad was on a live screen on their computers.  They took a report and said that they would look into it.  Later on they said that they couldn't do anything since although the crime had taken place on campus, the stolen item was no longer on campus as we could plainly see.  (If it had been in a dorm room, could they have done something?)  I asked the chief of the Suffolk University police what they could do, and how quickly, since the device has limited battery life and would only report its location as long as it was on.  He said they would get their report to the Boston Police in a few days, less than a week.  The student  They failed to take action to recover it.    Details: Using GoogleMap we found the house address; using Zillow we found the house owner; Using public records on Internet we found the people who lived in the house; using ATT Reverse-Lookup we got their phone number.  We gave all this to the Boston Police.  They were reluctant to go to recover the iPad even though the GPS was Real-time and showed its location. The student (against all recommendations) went to the location and took photos of the Car parked in back of the building (where the GPS showed the iPad to be) and gave the photo of the license plate to the police.  Still no action.  The police said that even though we knew it was there they were powerless and couldn't get a search warrant or go to get the iPad.  The next day I noticed on the MobileMe that the iPad had moved from behind the house to a position in the street in front of the house.  This made it likely that the unit might be in a car, or was in a car at the time I was looking at the MobileMe. 

I have more details if anyone is interested in hearing them, but don't want to make this entry too long.

We would like to get this story exposed since this type of crime is common, and people believe that they can recover stolen items if they go to the police.  Please pass this link along.    Best answer may be using social network as did student in another state - see GOOGLE to:  www.pcworld.com/.../techsavvy_student_tracks_down_macbook_air_thief.html

I am using iPads in my class at Suffolk University studying digital textbooks and how they are changing education;  I loaned this iPad to a student.

to be continued...