When a thief got his sticky fingers on David Pogue’s beloved iPhone, he probably wasn’t bargaining for a crowd-sourced investigation. The New York Times tech columnist tweeted screen shots of the phone’s location to his 1.4 million+ followers.
My iPhone was stolen. Find My iPhone shows it in MD. Anyone want to help me track it down? ADVENTURE! http://t.co/NSZPPaPO
— David Pogue (@Pogue) August 2, 2012
Here's the larger view of where my iPhone is currently held hostage, to show you the city… http://t.co/mYSvbCdr
— David Pogue (@Pogue) August 2, 2012
Somewhere in Maryland, eh? The Twitterverse is on it!
.@Pogue If I could skip out of work I'd head there – Seat Pleasant, MD, isn't that far from DC. DC/MD peeps: anybody able to help?
— Rudi Riet (@randomduck) August 2, 2012
https://twitter.com/divdahv/status/231054368340836353
@Pogue Google streetview is available for that street.Carrington Place, Seat Pleasant, Maryland
— Mathias ???? (@100111) August 2, 2012
A Gizmodo writer believes the phone is being held near the Highland Park Elementary School in Carmody Hills-Pepper Mill Village, Maryland.
@pogue we're helping RT @kylenw: CONTINUING COVERAGE http://t.co/2UP8YS7f”
— Joe Brown (@joemfbrown) August 2, 2012
A few Twitter users warned Pogue that the thief is holing up in a shady area.
https://twitter.com/ddeville/status/231048913950474240
@Pogue Not the most ideal neighborhood to track it down. Might think about contacting local authorities rather than sending in a vigilante.
— Michael Land (@mflandman) August 2, 2012
https://twitter.com/PolymorphNinja/status/231067490208333824
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Some suggested instead of counting on the Twitter Bloodhound Gang, Pogue should call the authorities.
@Pogue call the police!
— bernardo (@bjchan) August 2, 2012
@Pogue Theres a Police station about 2.5 miles from there. Maybe give them a call… http://t.co/sCLi9qXf
— Doug Judson (@crashrider) August 2, 2012
@Pogue call the police in that area and communicate with them throughout the process. As they go to the door, set the phone to send a “ping”
— Chris Russell ♬ (@CJRPhD) August 2, 2012
Will Twitter’s super sleuths save the day? No luck yet, but at least Pogue has a ready-made topic for his next column.
Twitchy will monitor the missing iPhone situation and update as more information becomes available.
Update:
Pogue links to Gizmodo’s detective work.
OMG!! Gizmodo has learned more about my lost iPhone in 2 hours than… anyone! Amazing… http://t.co/23BQIgdi
— David Pogue (@Pogue) August 2, 2012
Gizmodo has posted an update with a statement from Pogue. Apparently his phone was snagged Monday on an Amtrak train somewhere between Philadelphia and Bridgeport, Conn. He located the phone using “Find My iPhone” and Maryland police have been notified.
The phone is now thought to be at a private residence.
Update:
Sage advice:
https://twitter.com/TucsonSco/status/231076757283950592
Update:
Police located Pogue’s iPhone this afternoon.
UNBELIEVABLE!! The Prince George's County, MD police department have recovered my iPhone!
— David Pogue (@Pogue) August 2, 2012
Here they are–Maryland's finest, holding my iPhone after its long, harrowing journey! http://t.co/8tcAoCz0
— David Pogue (@Pogue) August 2, 2012
Julie Parker, media relations director for Prince George’s County Police, tweeted a photo of the recovered phone.
@Pogue Here's your iPhone safe & sound. We'll FedEx it tonight. #poguephoneseriousemergency pic.twitter.com/oOMrVcNx
— Julie Parker (@JulieParkerComm) August 2, 2012
If anyone lost a phone & had it ping to a location in #PrinceGeorge's County, we'd do same. Sort of routine, but rare to recover. @pogue
— Julie Parker (@JulieParkerComm) August 2, 2012
Well done, PGPD!
Update:
Pogue tells the harrowing tale of the days he spent pining for his lost iPhone.
Annnnnd, here it is: My own telling of the Great Pogue Lost iPhone/Twitter Recovery Tale! http://t.co/eOkxRQJZ
— David Pogue (@Pogue) August 2, 2012
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