Alleged iPhone iThief Gets iArrested in Weird Crime News

Each week, Patch combs through the more shocking, surprising and often absurd alleged criminal acts and police-related incidents that unfold around the region. Here’s what went on last week for “OMG PD.”

Cars aren’t supposed to have legs: Camden County Police Officer Edward Gonzalez was on his way to a different call when he happened to see just that—and since cars don’t normally sport legs sprouting from the driver’s-side window, Gonzalez intervened and ended up arresting alleged would-be robber Francisco Castillo III. 

Arrested via the Cloud: A missing iPhone turned into a surveillance camera, after Camden resident Gary Hudson didn’t realize the phone he grabbed was still syncing photos to its owner’s account, police said. Hudson, who Gloucester Township Police said didn’t respond to emails sent to the account he set up on the stolen phone, was arrested after police turned to social media for tips. 

The brake light was the least of their worries: Shoddy car maintenance is bad, but . West Deptford Police say they nabbed a car full of people for that, plus other charges, off an otherwise routine stop along Route 295.

Another alert homeowner: A Cinnaminson man who kept an eye out when he heard someone at his shed caught a would-be burglar trying to steal power tools, police said. Michael Chlebuch, 41, faces burglary and theft charges for the incident.

Pigeon dropping: An alleged scammer tried to pull an old one outside Wegmans, police said, claiming she had a bag full of cash she’d split with a senior citizen—as long as her victim would withdraw some cash as a good-faith gesture. The alleged scammer didn’t have any luck, as her victim walked away from the con.

A burglary that wasn’t: A West Deptford man told police he thought , only to call a do-over when he realized his wallet had just fallen under the passenger seat.