A photograph of worn flip-flops led amateur detective Jason Zhao to recover his father’s cellphone at a Toronto-area casino. The series of events unfolded from around 11:30 am Monday, when Zhao’s father’s iPhone was stolen from a Scarborough supermarket, initiating a technological pursuit that concluded at a Great Canadian Casino.
Tracking the device through iCloud’s “Lost Mode,” Zhao first pinpointed it at a mall, where he suspected an attempt to erase or sell the phone occurred. Soon, a photo appeared on his father’s linked iPad, displaying what seemed to be the thief’s feet in old flip-flops.
Zhao pursued the phone and the thief, who traveled by bus to a north-end Toronto apartment. While the phone initially went silent, the GPS signal later showed it at a casino on the city’s outskirts.
Clues suggest this was the Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto, corroborated by a photo Zhao shared with The Toronto Star, showing the casino’s exterior.
Zhao drove 22 miles to the casino, keeping the image of the distinctive flip-flops in mind. He used iCloud’s “Play Sound” feature to locate the phone, but casino noise hindered this. Shifting tactics, Zhao looked for anyone wearing the unique flip-flops.
Spotting the suspect, Zhao triggered the phone’s sound again. Although no alert was apparent, the man’s reaction confirmed Zhao’s suspicions. Approaching casino security was unproductive, so Zhao shadowed the suspect while calling non-emergency police. After a long hold, he dialed 911, prompting police intervention due to the suspect’s growing agitation.
Toronto Police arrived as the suspect exited for a break. Zhao flagged them down, leading to the recovery of the phone and another device. The suspect was apprehended, having concealed the SIM card with other items.
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- Source: SCCGManagement.com