Tracking apps used to find missing children, stolen property

ORLANDO, Fla. — Tracking apps on cellphones have been used for years to help families keep up with their children, and now they're helping law enforcement track down missing children and stolen property faster.

WFTV's Vanessa Welch sat down with the local computer programmer who created the first tracking app that's now a major tool for police.

Roberto Francesetti doesn't answer his cellphone when riding his motorcycle, and his wife was constantly worried about his safety.

So a year and half ago, the Orange County computer programmer created the first tracking app for iPhones.

"It can show where you are at any movement," said Francesetti.

The family tracker app uses GPS technology to track an iPhone or iPad.

The information is stored for two weeks, a feature that's helping law enforcement fight crime.

"This is actually what helped a mother locate her missing child," said Francesetti.

Orlando police told WFTV they've used similar GPS tracking applications to solve violent crimes like robberies and homicides.

"It's proven itself time and time again," said Detective Ed Michael, of the Orlando Police Department.

And it's helping them solve cases much faster

"Before (you) had to wait for items to turn up in a pawn shop or shop registry, now you can get a location of where laptop is left and sometimes leads to suspect," said Michael.

Right now police are using GPS tracking to help a teacher in New York recover his stolen iPad that ended up in Orlando.

The family tracker app first showed the teacher his iPad was at this home in Rochester, N.Y.

Eleven days later, the app tracked the iPad to an apartment complex in south Orlando near the airport.

Francesetti determined the iPad was being used by someone with a BellSouth account and gave the IP address to police, who are working to recover the stolen iPad.

Michael said people often unknowingly buy stolen iPads on Craigslist, and they usually cooperate with police, but other times a GPS ping leads them to a stolen device and much more.

"The odds of somebody taking just one phone or device and not being involved in other property crimes are slim," said Michael.

Police are still investigating the stolen iPad case.

Michael said he uses a GPS tracking app to keep tabs on his own children and encourages everyone to download one on their devices.

Several of the apps are free.