iPhone app helps man track down his stolen car

A THIEF who stole a car in Birmingham has been caught after he was tracked by software on an iPhone left inside the vehicle.

Tracking software on the man's iPhone helped him find his car. Picture: Getty

Andrew Plant took the car after its owner briefly popped in to a restaurant and left the keys in the ignition.

However, the owner’s phone was still in the car and loaded with a pre-installed tracking app which was used to track down the vehicle to a road in Small Heath, Birmingham.

The owner then called the police who arrested 41-year-old Plant, of no fixed address, nearby.

He was sentenced to 12 weeks in jail for the theft at Birmingham Magistrates Court.

PC Leanne Chapman, of West Midlands Police, encouraged people to install tracker software on any of their electronic items as “ they’re much more likely to get them back” if stolen.