Phone Tracking Leads to Arrest of Burglar in Palma

Phone tracking puts the perpetrator on the trail

It almost sounds too simple: a smartphone still sending location data gives away the thief. That's how it happened in the early hours of September 21 in Palma. Residents at the Town Hall Square (Plaza de Cort) suddenly noticed unrest — and later learned that a 24-year-old man from Algeria had allegedly broken into an Old Town apartment.

How the journey to the arrest unfolded

The apartment owners immediately used the tracking feature of the stolen phone. The signal led them to a park on the Via de Cintura. Instead of slipping away, they went to the local police station and took a patrol with them — pragmatic, that's how it's done here.

During the check: more stolen goods and a knife

When officers arrived at the scene, they found a man in possession of several clearly stolen items: game consoles, sunglasses and headphones. He was also carrying a knife. The items were returned to the victims.

The charges

The 24-year-old now faces charges of burglary, trespassing and bodily harm — the latter because witnesses say there was also an attack on the residents during the incident. Investigations are ongoing.

Cases like this remind us how helpful seemingly mundane technology can be — and how quickly a risky act can turn against a perpetrator when victims stay proactive. It's a good example of how GPS tracking and a measure of persistence can help solve crimes.

Anyone living on or visiting Mallorca: secure your phones, set passwords and stay calm if in doubt. And if you temporarily lose your device — before you rush off, photograph serial numbers and note times. It helps the police and makes returning the device easier.