Armed robbery victim uses app to track stolen iPhone

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A West Bend man who was robbed at gunpoint earlier this week was able to recover his stolen iPhone by using an app he had previously downloaded.

Chad Holtz was picking up a friend near the corner of North and Farwell around 9:45 p.m. Tuesday, August 13th when he was approached by a man he didn't know.

"I was about to get out of my car and I saw a fellow walking around and I guess he looked at me, looked both ways, came over to my car, pulled up a bandanna, put a gun to my window," said Holtz. "Closed my door pretty quick but he said 'this is no game' so he proceeded to take my iPhone, my wallet, $150, my cards, everything."

After the initial shock of the incident, Holtz remembered the app he'd installed called 'Find My iPhone.' The program allows users to track the location of their cellular device.

"I just did it. It's completely free and I figured, why not?" said Holtz. "Every time they stopped I was able to get a screen shot of the app."

About four hours after Holtz was robbed, he noticed the phone at the same location -- a house on Keefe Ave. between 3rd and 4th. He notified police who were able to locate the suspect and take him into custody.

Milwaukee Police recovered the stole iPhone, however Holtz's wallet is still missing. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.