Posted Thursday, January 10, 2013 --- 11:27 a.m.

Incident Report from the Madison Police Department:

Incident Type: Theft

Incident Date: 01/02/2013 - 9:45 PM

Address: 100 block W. Main St.

Arrested: Marvin B. White, age 52, no permanent address
Mr. White was arrested for Theft.

Victim: Male, age 36, Sun Prairie

Details: He was in between texts, conversing with others at a downtown bar, when the crime took place.

The 36-year old Sun Prairie man had set his white iPhone on the bar, and he never saw the man with the floral print tie. But, the bartender did, and that was good. For moments later the victim realized his iPhone was gone. The bartender told him he had seen a man in his 40’s, the one with the floral print tie, come into the tavern, only for a couple of minutes, and while there, he had stood right next to where the victim was seated. The suspect’s tie was distinctive to the bartender’s discerning eye as it reminded him of the one he had worn as a boy, back when he attended a Catholic school.

Armed with this information, the victim borrowed a friend’s phone and told police he was now using it to track the thief’s movements, thanks to some very helpful software in his iPhone. He believed the suspect was now on S. Broom St., near John Nolen Dr. Officers were provided the bartender’s description, and moved into the area. A possible suspect was spotted, outside, in the 100 block of W. Main St. The victim told an officer his iPhone also has an alarm, part of the tracking software, and he could activate it. The officer instructed him to commence alarm activation. Moments later, a beeping sound could be heard coming from the suspect’s pocket. “Hand over the iPhone,” said the officer. The suspect seemed puzzled by the request; nevertheless, he reached into his pocket and produced the iPhone. The victim used a code to unlock it, proving ownership.

The suspect claimed he had purchased the phone from another man for $5.00. His floral print tie would indicate otherwise.

The officer returned to the scene of the crime and asked the bartender if he would be able to identify the tie again. He said he would, and the officer showed him the one that had been around the suspect’s neck. The bartender’s response was quick: “That’s it.”