iBurglar Steals Steve Jobs' Wallet, Driver's License, Computers
An enterprising iBurglar stole Steve Jobs' wallet , driver's license, and thousands of dollars' worth of Apple electronics from the late tech guru's home, according to police.
But the burglar likely didn't even know whose home he was pillaging, a prosecutor told the San Jose Mercury News: "The best we can tell is it was totally random."
In perhaps a fitting tribute to the late Jobs, who died last fall at age 56, it was his company's own technology that helped authorities track down a suspect, the Mercury News reports.
In addition to a wallet, the alleged Steve Jobs burglar also stole pricey electronics including an iMac, a Mac Mini, an iPad, several iPods, and an Apple TV receiver, according to police.
When the suspected burglar connected one of the stolen computers to the Internet, investigators were somehow able to pinpoint the suspect's location and swooped in to make an arrest last month, the Mercury News reports.
The paper did not go into details about how authorities did this, but it may have been through a feature called "Find My iPhone" or "Find My Mac," which lets Mac, iPad, and iPhone owners locate a missing device via GPS tracking. The app is so simple, an 8-year-old boy used it to help bust an alleged burglar in Tennessee earlier this year.
Too bad Kariem McFarlin, 35, of Alameda, Calif., didn't think about that possibility when he allegedly carried out the heist. Perhaps he was too involved in the elaborate theft, which -- according to McFarlin's alleged confession -- involved jumping over construction scaffolding, finding a key to the house, using luggage found in the home to stash the items, and using patio-furniture cushions to make sure the luggage landed softly when the theft was complete.
Among miscellaneous items the Steve Jobs burglar also allegedly stole: a blender, a soda maker, a bottle of Cristal champagne, and more than $60,000 worth of jewelry, according to police. If convicted, McFarlin could face a maximum of more than seven years in prison, the Mercury News reports.
Related Resources:
- Steve Jobs' home burglarized: Palo Alto home was an easy target (Los Angeles Times)
- Steve Jobs' FBI File (FindLaw's Courtside)
- iLook at Steve Jobs' Legal Legacy (FindLaw's California Case Law blog)
- Steve Jobs Action Figure Will Not Come to Market (FindLaw's Technologist)