Tracking Data Pinpoints Location for Arrests of 2 Burglary Suspects
Photo: William A Kennedy, Jr. and Wanda E. Scott
SAN LEANDRO — Two suspects were arrested after a burglary victim shared tracking data to help police locate her tablet computer. This data conveniently pinpointed the suspects’ exact location on a map for the arresting officers.
A resident of the 1200 block of Dorothy Avenue was the victim of a burglary on February 13. She was gone for only about an hour, when she returned that afternoon to find her home ransacked.
Inexplicably, the victim left a side door to her home unlocked. Authorities believe that’s how the suspects gained entry to her home, because there were no indications of forced entry.
Amidst all the mess left behind, she discovered jewelry and her tablet computer were missing. She phoned police who wasted no time determining that whoever stole her computer was about two miles away.
An online map pinpointed a vehicle moving towards downtown San Leandro. Officers pulled over the vehicle, where inside the stolen tablet was pinging its location—a built-in tracking feature.
The officers located both suspects near the Washington Plaza shopping center. In their possession, police found the stolen tablet and later determined one suspect was wearing the victim’s jewelry.
Turns out the suspects are visitors from Petaluma. Police arrested 40-year-old William A. Kennedy Jr., and 42-year-old Wanda E. Scott.
San Leandro police Lt. Isaac Benabou said in a prepared statement: “With the help of technology, we were able to locate the victim’s stolen items and arrest two suspects for the crime.”
Kennedy faces charges for first degree residential burglary and receiving stolen property. Kennedy remains in custody at Santa Rita Jail with bond for his release denied. Scott faces identical charges, but she is no longer in police custody.
