Cops Use Tablet to Find Thief

After a recent crime spree in Osage County, a suspect is now behind bars and police are crediting Facebook for help in solving the crime.Paul Herman, 25, is accused of stealing iPads and laptops and has been accused of similar crimes before, but has never been caught. Osage County Sheriff Michael Dixon says Herman was out on probation for another crime, but may have led police right to him.Herman’s neighbor off County Road 305 in Osage County reported a ring, about $250 and his Samsung tablet missing earlier this month. Law enforcement ended up using that tablet as a way to help catch the suspect.”The photographs that were taken with the tablet directly uploaded to the Facebook account, and gave us a pretty quick lead in this particular investigation,” said Sheriff Dixon.So every time Herman took a photo with the tablet, he gave investigators more evidence. Several pictures were even taken inside the house where he was staying.”It was very apparent in this particular case that the suspect didn’t have knowledge that the victim’s tablet was connected to his Facebook page,” said Dixon.Herman also allegedly stole from another house nearby. He is accused of taking three rings and having them pawned off in Jefferson City. By that time, Sheriff Dixon says Herman knew police were looking for him, so he decided to check in with a probation officer in Jefferson City. Shortly after, he was back in police custody.The tablet and other items from the burglarized home have not been recovered. The stolen rings that were pawned in Jefferson City have been returned to their owner.As of Wednesday night, Herman will be charged with second-degree burglary and theft. He is being held in the Osage County Jail without bond.