Iphone App Tracks Down Knife-Wielding Masked Mugger

A knife-wielding masked mugger – caught by a new 'Find My Iphone' app – after a brazen North London street robbery has been locked-up for four years.

Self-employed Jason Harewood, 19, (pictured) of Andover Road, Holloway pleaded guilty on the day of his trial to robbing the 42 year-old man in Fortis Green, Muswell Hill on March 15.

He got away with the victim's Iphone, cash card and pin number after pouncing from behind and threatening the man with a knife at 10.40pm.

Police were called on 999 and plain clothed officers from Haringey's Robbery Q-cars attended in an unmarked vehicle.

The officers took the victim on a drive around to see if he could spot the suspect and used an Ipad to trace the phone.

The Ipad was purchased by the Met to be used to trace stolen items using Apps such as 'Find My Iphone' - and it was successful in tracing the phone to a road in Holloway where the victim pointed out Harewood.



Harewood ran from police and the officers gave chase, seeing him discard an object into nearby bushes.

The item was found to be the victim's Iphone.

The officers found Harewood trying to hide on top of some garages and arrested him on suspicion of robbery.

Harewood denied the robbery and told police that he had not been in Muswell Hill at the time.

However, officers had seized his Oyster card on arrest and checks revealed the card had been used on the night of the robbery on a 43 bus.

Police recovered CCTV from the bus showing Harewood getting off in Muswell Hill moments before the robbery.


Detective Constable John Martin of Haringey CID said: “I'd like to thank the victim of this robbery for his diligence in phoning police on 999 at the earliest opportunity and having already installed and enabled the tracker app on his phone prior to the theft.

“His actions enabled police to do what we like to do best, to obtain best evidence and to arrest the offender at the earliest opportunity.

“Faced with the overwhelming evidence Harewood realised he had no option but to enter a guilty plea. 



"Harewood had only been released from prison on licence a couple of weeks before carrying out this robbery, having served one year of a two year sentence for a knife point robbery just streets away the previous year.

“By carrying out a similar offence, he has shown a complete disregard for the criminal justice system and for the right of law abiding members of the public to go about their business without fear.

“I am pleased that he will not be walking the streets for a significant period of time.”