Police use iPad app to apprehend Christmas Day burglar

A man accused of stealing an iPad and holiday presents from a Westlake Village home Christmas morning was captured with the help of an app on the tablet computer.

A search of the suspect's home also turned up Christmas gifts stolen in an earlier burglary, allowing them to be returned in time for the holiday, according to Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies.

A resident of the Westlake Village home awoke at 3:30 a.m. Sunday to find an intruder, who then ran away. Later that morning, the resident notified authorities after using the Find My iPad app to determine that his Apple device was giving off a signal from a nearby home. Sheriff's deputies went to that location, recovered the device and arrested Patrick Krewson, 20, of Vista on suspicion of burglary.

A search of Krewson's home uncovered property stolen in a Dec. 22 burglary in Vista including two flat-screen TVs, a laptop computer and a large number of children's Christmas presents, authorities said. The mother of the Vista family whose home was looted burst into tears upon learning that the gifts had been recovered.

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