iPhone app snares VHS theft suspect

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Darren Parkton, 18, of Valparaiso, is shown in a booking mug supplied by the Valparaiso (Ind.) Police Department February 3, 2012. Parkton was arrested attempting to pawn stolen items, including an iPhone which had a GPS tracking application police used to locate the suspect at the pawn shop. | provided photo~Sun-Times Media

Updated: March 5, 2012 8:06AM

VALPARAISO — An iPhone tracking application led police to a local pawn shop Thursday where they arrested an 18-year-old Valparaiso teen, who is accused of stealing the phone.

Darren Parkton has been charged with theft, a Class D felony, public intoxication and minor consumption of alcohol.

Sgt. Michael Grennes said police were called to Valparaiso High School to investigate numerous reports of thefts of items from the fieldhouse locker room. Police learned items were taken from the locker room while students were working out in the fieldhouse.

Eight students reported items stolen from their lockers. An assortment of items including clothing, cellular phones, shoes and textbooks were taken from the victims.

Through the investigation, police learned one of the students who had an iPhone stolen had an application on it that allowed him to track his phone through a GPS. From a computer inside the school, police learned his phone was at a pawn shop on Lincolnway in Valparaiso.

Officers arrived and found Parkton attempting to pawn the stolen iPhone.

Police located numerous other stolen items in a vehicle in the parking lot. Most items taken in the thefts were recovered. Parkton was held at the Porter County Jail.

Reach reporter Carole Carlson at 648-3154.