POLICE hunted down stolen property within four hours thanks to a tracking device placed inside a computer.

Thieves had grabbed the iPad computer along with a Dell laptop and hard drive from a Mercedes parked in Fen Road, Milton, on September 10. But the owner had installed a tracking device in the stolen iPad and was able to track it to an exact address in Clay Way in Ely.

Officers raided the property and recovered the stolen goods at 7.30pm, arresting the occupants.

One of them, 24-year-old Frankie Parker, of Fen Road, Cambridge, admitted buying the property in the street and was charged with receiving stolen goods.

He pleaded guilty at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court and was given a 12 month community order with 60 hours unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay �85 costs.

Inspector Robin Sissons said: “This case shows the value of having crime prevention tools such as trackers fitted to valuables.

“We were able to quickly identify exactly where the stolen property was and catch a criminal red-handed.

“This should serve as a warning that anyone caught handling stolen goods is committing an offence and could end up in court.”