Crime & Safety

Freehold Borough Police Use App to Find Alleged Phone Thief

Department reminds residents to lock their cars.

The Freehold Borough Police Department combined technology and good old fashioned police work to nab a person suspected of stealing a couple of cell phones in the borough.

Lt. Michael Sweetman said on Thursday at 2:12 p.m., Freehold Borough Water Department employees at the pump station in the area of Court and Rhea Streets reported finding their cell phones stolen from their truck.

Following the report Patrolman Sean Healey responded to the scene and determined that since the two phones were iPhones they would both have the Find-My-Phone app. Using the program Healey was able to trace the phones to an area near the courthouse where officers quickly began to search the area.

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Sweetman said a second check gave a more specific location on the east side of the building where officers found 39-year-old Taronne Ross of Newark sitting on a bench. An interview of Ross revealed he had the phones and he was arrested before being taken to police headquarters. Following further questioning by Healey Ross confessed to stealing the phones and was charged with burglary and receiving stolen property, according to police.

The Freehold Borough Police Department reminds all residents to lock unattended cars and keep personal property out of view to keep their personal property as safe as possible.

Find out what's happening in Freeholdwith free, real-time updates from Patch.


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