I was playing basketball at the Cal rec center and someone stole my iPhone from my sweatshirt. Later that night I texted the phone from my roommate's hoping that I could convince the thief of some kind of trade. I went to work the following day during which my roommate, who was a grad student at Berkeley (EECS!), received a text a from said thief. The thief tried to compel me or my friend to come to West Oakland (danger!), but my friend negotiated for a meeting at a Berkeley BART station. My friend called the UC police, and they organized a little sting to arrest the culprits and recover the phone. All for my first generation iPhone :) Pretty great. The transcript of the texts is pretty magnificent, too.
Here you go (I had to type it up for the police report). My friend actually met the dudes at the BART station with a brown bag with a candy bar in it, the police waiting in the wings. All for my iPhone. What a guy...
Me (on Steve's phone): Pick up the phone. And give it back.
thief (the following morning): A man I find yo phone hit m e. Backs
Steve: Cool how can i get it back from you
thief: Sense I find the can i get a reward cause I was gone throw it away but i figured u needed yo phone
thief: its up to u man
thief: hello
Steve: Yeah how much
thief: 250 or 300
thief: I jus. Need the money man am am homeless
Steve: Ok how about 100
thief: How about 200
Steve: Deal where do we meet
thief: Meet me at the am pm in west Oakland ok
Steve: Ok im at work til 8 see you there at 815
thief: Do u know anybody else dat can do it cuz datse a long time man
thief: Hello
Steve: Ok my pal can meet you at ashby bart at 3
thief: I don't have a way man tell to pal to meet me by am pm if u want yo phone i don't have all day man
Steve: My friend doesnt have a car and im in sf till 8 and hes not going into oakland. ashby at 3
thief: ok i need a number tho
thief: Ok tel yo pal to meet me at 19th. Street Bart and I'll give him my number ok
thief: so wsup man
Steve: Hes not going into oakland. ashby at 3 ok. if yeah i'll give you his number
Steve: Ok hes leaving now for ashby 200 ok his number is 510#######
thief: Ok were is he cumin from and tell him to put da money in a bag or something
Steve: Hes coming from north and the money is in a brown bag
I was playing basketball at the Cal rec center and someone stole my iPhone from my sweatshirt. Later that night I texted the phone from my roommate's hoping that I could convince the thief of some kind of trade. I went to work the following day during which my roommate, who was a grad student at Berkeley (EECS!), received a text a from said thief. The thief tried to compel me or my friend to come to West Oakland (danger!), but my friend negotiated for a meeting at a Berkeley BART station. My friend called the UC police, and they organized a little sting to arrest the culprits and recover the phone. All for my first generation iPhone :) Pretty great. The transcript of the texts is pretty magnificent, too.