Amazing "Wheres my Droid" story

[spillner]

So last friday I was driving to an inner city school where I live and I was using GPS because I didnt know how to get there. I was picking up my brother who was proctoring exams for summer school that day and his car was in the shop. I had to go into the school to get him. When we came out my window was smashed and my phone, laptop and bluetooth were gone.

I was immediatley crushed until I realized my GPS was still on. Using my brothers iPhone I texted the "Wheres my Droid" password to my phone. Now with the iPhone I couldn't get the link to google maps to work but I did get the Long/Lat coordinates and using a computer and google maps I was able to pinpoint the location of my things to the cops. In less than an hour the police had all my things. I had to wait till today to get everything back from evidence.

The would be robber was a student who had just finished his exam, they would not release his name due to his age. He must have seen my laptop through the window and decided to snag it.

I called my local news paper to tell them what happened but I have yet to see it in the police blotter, which isn't surprising because they report less than half of crimes in the area.

I love this phone

 

[dezymond]

i have one question about that app.

when you do use it and your gps is off (i leave mine off), does it turn on when you text the password?

glad to hear you got your Droid and the rest of your stuff back

 

[Abe21599]

wow that is pretty amazing. Droid Does

 

[Abe21599]

i have one question about that app.

when you do use it and your gps is off (i leave mine off), does it turn on when you text the password?

glad to hear you got your Droid and the rest of your stuff back

i dont think it does unfortunately. I have Tasker where i can keep the GPS off until i get a designated message. but wheres my droid is definitely a simple app to use if you keep your gps on

 

[mwhartman]

Sorry about the damage to the car but glad you got your things back. Another nice story for the list of Droid does!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[hookbill]

Genius. Great story, glad you got your stuff back.

 

[dezymond]

i have one question about that app.

when you do use it and your gps is off (i leave mine off), does it turn on when you text the password?

glad to hear you got your Droid and the rest of your stuff back

i dont think it does unfortunately. I have Tasker where i can keep the GPS off until i get a designated message. but wheres my droid is definitely a simple app to use if you keep your gps on

Thanks for the info Abe.

I still have yet to check out Tasker. I'm very good about keeping my phone in my pocket or remembering where i put it, but never know what's going to happen.

I haven't lost anything like this for years so maybe i'll keep pushing my luck.

 

[GrillMouster]

On my original droid I used to leave the gps on all the time for this reason. I had Lookout installed for this purpose. Leaving the gps on didn't use any battery. Unfortunately, my new Droid X has a problem with gps and battery, so I don't leave it on.

By the way, I think if you're rooted wave secure allows you to remotely turn on gps so you can track your phone. Also, I found that juice defender rendered lookout useless because without the data connection always available I couldn't track my phone.

 

[searayman]

sweet, that robber was probably super confused lol

 

[hookbill]

I could never find the post even if I searched but this is not the first time someone got their Droid back using GPS. I remember another thread about it a while back. Definitely something to keep in mind.

 

[steveninspokane]

Droid Does! On a number of levels.

 

[RW-1]

I never worry about the supposed thieves ...

[video=youtube;geynA-JYDHE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geynA-JYDHE]YouTube - Suburban Auto Group Trunk Monkey #4 - Thrown off a Bridge[/video]

Glad you got your droid and stuff back!

 

[spillner]

I wish I saw the kids face when the cops showed up to his house. I talked to the officer and he said its not the first time they've tracked a phone but it normally takes hours for them because they have to call the carrier. He was amazed at how accurate it was.

Only the window was smashed and my insurance covered it.

"Can your smart phone catch criminals? Droid Does"

 

[BayouFlyFisher]

Great story!! Thanks for sharing.

But "So last friday I was driving to an inner city school where I live" If you live at the school, why did you need a GPS to find it???

 

[aminaked]

If you live at the school, why did you need a GPS to find it???

Have you ever tried driving in a school? You need every advantage you can get. GPS might help.