App Tracks Stolen Vehicle, Recovered By Alameda Police

ALAMEDA, CA — A vehicle owner tracked their stolen vehicle using an app, and called the Alameda Police Department last Saturday to report that it was at the Nob Hill Shopping Center.

As officers attempted to contact the occupant, he took off running. Officers caught the 34-year-old Oakland man in the 2500 block of Blanding Avenue and arrested him. Police report that he was in possession of a loaded ghost gun, several pieces of stolen property, drugs, and paraphernalia.

Police said in a social media narrative, "Thanks to a mobile application, the vehicle owner was able to provide dispatchers with real-time information about their vehicle's location. Similar to 'find my phone' applications, some applications have the ability to help monitor your vehicle’s location in the event your vehicle is stolen. If your vehicle is stolen and you find where it is, notify local authorities and do not attempt to recover the vehicle on your own. Not only does this help ensure your safety, but officers can remove the information from the statewide database."

Officers returned the vehicle to the owner and contacted some of the owners of the other stolen property.