A sting operation helped police track down and arrest a suspected phone thief early Saturday morning.
The victim, a 21-year-old female, had her phone stolen from her purse Friday night while at the Kollege Klub bar on the 500 block of North Lake Street, according to the police report.
The thief contacted a friend of the victim, whose number was in the stolen cell phone, from the phone on Saturday morning with an offer to meet up and return the phone for $30, according to the report.
The victim's friend then contacted the police and cooperated with authorities in determining the time and place for a rendezvous, according to Madison Police Department Spokesperson Joel DeSpain.
The suspect, Earlie C. Wilson, gave his description over the phone and was apprehended upon his arrival at the chosen location, a gas station at the corner of Park Street and Olin Avenue, DeSpain said.
