A mum’s burglary and theft of a £400 iPad came to light on Apple iCloud technology which showed photographs taken in her home.
But the loser still didn’t get her device back because it was thrown in the river.
Victoria Richards (25), of Two Sisters Close, Sutton Bridge, took part in a house exchange and kept one set of keys to her former home in the village’s Railway Lane South.
Richards visited that house with a friend and they went inside to see what the new occupiers had done with the decor.
Marie Stace, prosecuting, said the occupier later discovered the iPad had gone and used the Where’s My iPad application to locate it. Addresses including Richards’ home came up.
Richards voluntarily allowed police to search her home, but they found nothing.
The iPad owner then saw photographs taken after the iPad went missing – photographs taken at her old home.
Miss Stace read from a statement from the friend who was with Richards at the time of the burglary who said she had driven Richards to the riverbank at her request so the iPad could be disposed of in the river.
Richards was sentenced to a 12-week, 7pm-7am curfew by Spalding magistrates on Thursday and ordered to pay £400 compensation.
She must also pay a £60 victim surcharge but no costs because of her limited means.
Richards pleaded guilty to burglary and theft.
Solicitor David Lee, mitigating, said it was an unplanned and unsophisticated burglary.
Richards went to the house to return the key and pick up mail, but the friend used the key to open the door – the friend handed her the iPad and they left with it.