# The Unlikely Contribution of an iPad in a Significant Criminal Case
In a saga that might be confused for a suspense thriller, an iPad that remained submerged in the River Thames for over five years played a crucial part in convicting three individuals for attempted murder. This extraordinary case weaves together aspects of crime, technology, and justice, demonstrating how an ordinary device transformed into a vital piece of evidence in an intricate criminal inquiry.
## One of the World’s Largest Armed Thefts
The tale starts with Paul Allen, one of the eight participants in the infamous **Securitas depot robbery** of 2006. This burglary occurred at a cash depot utilized by the Bank of England and led to the theft of £53 million (around $68 million). The gang’s loot could have been even more substantial, as they abandoned an astounding £154 million ($199 million) owing to the constraints of their escape vehicle.
Allen received an 18-year prison sentence but was released in 2016 after serving less than half of it. However, his freedom would soon take a violent and unexpected turn.
## A Heist at a Museum and an Assault
In 2019, just three years post-release, Allen was shot at his residence. Six rounds were fired through his kitchen window, with one hitting him in the throat and embedding in his spinal cord, rendering him paralyzed from the chest down. This vicious assault was associated with a string of robberies perpetrated by three notorious criminals, who were subsequently arrested for an unrelated museum burglary.
During this heist, the offenders broke glass cases that held invaluable 14th-century Chinese Ming Dynasty artifacts, making off with items worth £2.8 million. Their undoing occurred when they attempted to auction off one of the purloined items, triggering the auction house to notify authorities.
DNA evidence linked these criminals to the attack on Allen, and a statement from one of the accused claimed their getaway vehicle had briefly halted near the River Thames, prompting detectives to investigate the area.
## The Surprising Find of the iPad
In an ironic turn of events, law enforcement searching the River Thames for the handgun used in Allen’s shooting instead stumbled upon an iPad, encased in mud after being underwater for more than five years. Discovered by an officer employing a metal detector, the device held a pink Vodafone SIM card in its tray.
Forensic professionals managed to cleanse the iPad and extract call data, which delivered essential evidence against the three suspects: Louis Ahearne, Stewart Ahearne, and Daniel Kelly. This information not only associated them with the museum theft in Switzerland a month earlier but also indicated they had deployed a GPS tracker to surveil Allen’s movements, pointing to a motive linked to a financial obligation he was owed.
## Conclusion
The retrieval of the iPad underscores the convergence of technology and law enforcement in contemporary criminal investigations. What started as a standard search for a firearm evolved into a crucial breakthrough, illustrating how even the most unforeseen pieces of evidence can yield justice. This case stands as a testament to the intricacies of criminal networks and the measures individuals will resort to evade legal consequences, as well as the innovative tactics that law enforcement can use to enforce justice.
As technology progresses, its capacity to aid in crime resolution will also advance, establishing it as a pivotal element in the quest for justice.
