Stolen iPad Signal Nabs Burglar

OCEAN CITY -- A Pittsville man was connected to several Ocean City burglaries last week throughout the month of August after resort police were able to track his whereabouts using a signal transmitted from an iPad stolen from his most recent alleged break-in.

During the month of August, the Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) investigated several reported burglaries, which had occurred on the ocean side of the mid-town area. In the course of the investigation, resort police were able to recover a phone number belonging to the possible suspect, later identified as William Troy Stodghill, 48, of Pittsville, who was already wanted for failure to appear for trial in Circuit Court for an unrelated burglary case.

Last Wednesday, OCPD patrol officers responded to another reported burglary in the area of 71st Street. During the investigation, patrol officers were able to track an iPad stolen from the victim using a cellular data signal being transmitted by the electronic device. Using the cellular signal, Ocean City Police were able to locate Stodghill in West Ocean City where he was found still in possession of the stolen I-Pad.

Stodghill was arrested in connection with the 71st Street burglary and on the outstanding warrant for failing to appear for trial for an unrelated burglary arrest dating back to last November. With Stodghill back in custody, resort police were able to obtain a search and seizure warrant for the suspect’s Pittsville home.

With the assistance of the Wicomico Sheriff’s Office, OCPD detectives executed the search and seizure warrant at Stodghill’s home in Pittsville and recovered stolen items linking the suspect to at least four additional residential burglaries in Ocean City reported over the last month or so.

Stodghill was taken before a District Court Commissioner and was ordered held on a $25,000 bond. He remained behind bars as of late yesterday.

Ocean City police are urging anyone who may have been a victim of Stodghill’s mid-town burglary spree, or who may have additional information about the suspect or the crimes, to contact OCPD Det. Todd Speigle at 410-723-6604.