CAPE CORAL, Fla. -- A Cape Coral homeowner is still shaken after coming face-to-face with several gunmen late Monday night. Unfortunately for the burglars, what they stole lead police to them.
The Cape Coral homeowner says he's shocked that a simple mistake of not locking a door almost cost his grandson and friends their lives.
They were playing video games on the couch when masked men entered through an unlocked door and forced the teens onto the floor of the bedroom, the gunmen left leaving furniture ripped up and knocked over. The criminals were able to take off with electronics including a Playstation, Macbook computer and an iPhone.
But the GPS on the iPhone allowed police to track the criminals down. Just minutes after dialing 91, police pulled over the car the suspects fled in -- just just blocks from the home.
"Smart devices that are location aware really help us in solving crimes, it's just rare to see one that enables is to do it in the moment. Usually it's after the fact, this was as it was happening" said Sgt. Dana Coston with the Cape Coral Police Department.
The homeowner believes his grandson has now learned his lesson -- to always lock the door behind him.
Raymond West, Mallikk Crews and a 17-year-old are each facing armed burglary and grand theft charges.
