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Student Uses GPS on Stolen Phone to Make Short Film on the Thief

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Tony Maples Photography

 

Anthony van der Meer, a film student, was curious about what happens to cell phones once someone steals them from a public place. It can make the phone’s owner feel very exposed and vulnerable, but van der Meer purposefully wanted to see what would happen when a thief took his device.

In order to watch the phone and the thief’s journey, the student used spyware app Cerberus. According to Bored Panda, “Anthony listened to the thief’s calls, read his messages, took photos, and even recorded both audio and video. The filmmaker then compressed everything into a thrilling 21 minute documentary movie which highlights how easy it is to spy on someone in the digital age.”

Interestingly, it took quite some time for someone to actually take the phone, but once someone did, van der Meer “followed” him. Over time, he developed a “one-sided bond” with the man. Eventually, he even tracked him down in person, but he decided not speak to him as he realized that he didn’t know this man at all despite following him for weeks.

Van der Meer says that Romania was the last place the phone was “seen.”