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iPhone tracking feature leads deputies to stolen smartphones

Posted at 11:44 AM, Feb 03, 2012
and last updated 2012-02-03 12:09:28-05

SPOTSYLVANIA, Va. (WTVR) – Officials said two people and a 9-year-old boy were apprehended after two iPhones were stolen Thursday.

The Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office responded to Pro-Tax on Southpoint Plaza Way around 7 p.m. after an iPhone was stolen.

Around the same time, an employee at the AT&T store on Southpoint Parkway said their iPhone was also stolen, according to Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office Captain Mike Harvey in a news release.

Witnesses’ descriptions of the vehicle led deputies to the suspects, who were detained at Jefferson Davis Highway and Market Street.

Additionally, the AT&T employee used his iPhone’s locate feature to find the phone. It showed his smartphone was at Jefferson Davis Highway and Market Street. He also sent an alert tone to the phone.

As a result, deputies found the iPhone on a 9-year-old boy inside the vehicle.  Deputies said the boy is the same suspect the victim at Pro-Tax said took his phone.

The two adults, Louis James Miller and Tillye Mason, were with two 2 juvenile males.

The adults, who gave deputies several false names, were uncooperative and gave conflicting stories about what happened.

The 9-year-old boy told deputies he had thrown the other phone from the vehicle when they realized they were being pulled over.

Deputies said Mason was aware and complicit in the larcenies.

Tillye Mason was arrested for Contributing to the delinquency of a minor, Providing False ID to Law Enforcement to evade arrest, 2 counts of Grand Larceny, 2 counts of Conspiracy to commit Grand Larceny, and 18 outstanding warrants from Spotsylvania and Stafford for various larceny and fail to appear charges.  She was held under no bond.

Louis James Miller was arrested for Contributing to the delinquency of a minor, Providing False ID to Law Enforcement to evade arrest, and an outstanding capias from Stafford for violation of probation conditions.  He was held under no bond.

The boys are in the Child Protective Services’ custody.

Both phones were recovered and returned to their owners. However, the one thrown out of the truck was damaged beyond repair.