SANTA CRUZ — Officers with the Santa Cruz Police Department arrested 45-year-old transient Dennis Allen Ballard after he was caught red-handed with a stolen cell phone and credit card.
Dennis Ballard
On September 5, a couple parked their truck on Harvey West Boulevard and headed to a Pop Warner Football game, only to find upon their return home that their cell phone and a wallet were missing.
The couple decided to use the “Find My Phone” application (links below) that they had installed and were able to track the phone’s movement downtown to the Homeless Service Center on 115 Coral Street, at which point they called the Santa Cruz Police Department.
One of the victims rode with an officer as they tracked the phone across the San Lorenzo River to Felker Street, where it stopped at Ferrell’s Donuts shop on Ocean Street.
An alert was sent to the phone and moments later, out came Ballard with a cup of coffee and a donut in hand and the stolen phone still ringing in his pocket.
Once in custody, officers searched him and found he was possession of burglary tools, cocaine, and heroin, along with the stolen cellphone and credit card.
“Ballard has an extensive history of arrest that includes drug and trespassing charges,” said Santa Cruz Police Deputy Chief Steve Clark in a press release, “Mr. Ballard has been arrested by us eight times this year.”
Ballard was arrested and booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail on charges of receiving known stolen property over $950, possession of a controlled narcotic, possession of a controlled substance, trespassing, and probation violation. His bail has been listed at $16,500 dollars but it is unclear whether he will be granted bail.
Read more:
CBS San Francisco: App Leads Police To Suspect In Santa Cruz Smartphone Robbery
Santa Cruz Patch: Find My Phone App Nabs Suspect With Help From Santa Cruz Police
Where to Download “Find My Phone”:
Find My Phone ($0.99 – will not work if phone is turned off)
Blackberry app store ($2.99 – doesn’t work if phone is turned off or app is turned off)
iTunes app store (Free)
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