GPS Device Helps Deputies Locate Stolen Purse

Thanks to an Apple GPS tracking service, Marin County Sheriff's deputies recovered a purse stolen out of a car in Santa Venetia on Tuesday.

A San Anselmo woman was loading her car at BayMarin Community Church at 150 North San Pedro Road and left her driver's door ajar to step into the church. When she returned to her car about a minute later, she discovered that the purse she left between the front seats was missing, said sheriff Sgt. Debra Barry.

An Apple iPhone and about $200 in cash were in the purse.  Because the victim subscribes to Apple's "MobileMe" service, deputies used Global Positioning System technology and tracked the stolen iPhone to a corner about a mile away from the church. There, Barry said, deputies found Emmanual Krawler, 21, of Santa Venetia, standing on the corner of La Brea Way and North San Pedro Road with the stolen iPhone and about $200 in cash.

Deputies also found the stolen purse and all its contents hidden under a footbridge about a block away from the church.

Deputies arrested Krawler on suspicion of possessing stolen property, grand theft with a prior conviction and violation of probation, Barry said. She said Krawler is on probation for several cases, including stealing guitars from a vehicle belonging to another Santa Venetia resident.

Krawler was booked in Marin  County Jail on felony allegations of grand theft, receiving stolen property, petty theft with a prior jail t term and violation of probation. He is scheduled to be arraigned in Marin Superior Court Thursday.