Cell phones have become a ‘digital fingerprint’ in helping solve crime

January 12, 2009 05:24 AM

By Preston Sparks
Augusta Chronicle

AUGUSTA, Ga. — When you think of the many uses of a cell phone, tracking likely isn’t one of them.

But it is. Area police say the cell phone has become much like a digital fingerprint, providing records of where someone has been and to whom the person has talked, often aiding in the prosecution of a crime.

“Those have been valuable tools and have been used against their owners,” said Columbia County sheriff’s Capt. Steve Morris.

“I think some people still believe it can’t be traced, and that’s far from reality,” he said. “Those cell phones are great for us because we can triangulate those things.”

He said a cell phone recently helped police in a theft case at a high school. Capt. Morris said he couldn’t give specifics because the case is pending trial.

But he did say it involved suspects taking cell phones, cameras, iPods and money from lockers.

“Fortunately, one suspect used a stolen cell phone to call and text message one of their friends, leading investigators directly to them,” he said.

Cell phone records are often subpoenaed by police, and they help authorities accurately pinpoint where someone has been at a certain time.

“We have another pending case where investigators obtained the cell phone records of a suspect, then connected points where their phone made contact with cell phone towers,” Capt. Morris said. “We were able to plot the suspect’s movement, disproving their alibi.”

Capt. Morris said many cell phones are global positioning system-capable and send out a signal even when not in use.

In Richmond County, the same technique is applied.

“We do use that technology frequently, and it’s become a great asset,” said sheriff’s Maj. Ken Autry. “When (cell) phones are stolen, we get the victim to get their last cell phone bill.”

That helps police know when calls have been made and who has been called.

In Aiken County, sheriff’s Lt. Troy Elwell said cell phone records also have been used in a “whole gamut” of criminal cases.

Cell phone use is becoming increasingly prevalent.

As of June 2008, there were more than 262 million wireless subscribers in the U.S., an increase of about 68 million since June 2005, according to the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association.

“As prevalent as cell phones are in our society, records are only going to be more important to law enforcement,” Capt. Morris said.

Another way cell phones have helped police, Lt. Elwell said, are the camera images people have recorded during crimes.

“A lot of times we use pictures that have been taken by the victim or witnesses of either suspects or criminal activities,” he said. “If they (victims or witnesses) can do it in a safe manner, it helps us help them.”