I've only seen articles where police refuse to go after cell phones and tablets when people try to show them they have the device tracker software installed and know where it is.

"The victim and the shooter apparently knew each other, Davis said. The suspect has not been arrested but police have “very good leads” as to his identity, he added."

This adds a whole new level. I will guess they caught the killer.

That sounds a lot like "breaking and entering", which often gets one shot.

If you are not going to bring the police with you when you try to get the phone back, at least bring a friend.

and no one to testify against him in the theft case.

Breaking into a car usually does not qualify for lethal force defense. Check your state laws.

And if the only other witness is dead.

you first have to claim self defense.
If that claim does not hold legally for your lethal defense, you never get to the SYG part.

That's the whole purpose of SYG laws, you do not have to rely on self defense claims. Use the Google, it's your friend.

You need to brush up on your laws.

Here in seattle, someone shot a guy in the back for breaking into his car, grabbing the speaker box, and running away. Shooter went to jail for murder.

Shooter in this case will probably have to show he or she was in fear for their own life to skate. (And be eligible to have a pistol on them in the first place, highly unlikely for a phone thief.)

1. "I found the iPhone on the ground. It was in my car because I'd just picked it up. I didn't know if it was lost or stolen."

2. "The guy was breaking into my car, and it looked like he had a gun. I thought my life was in danger."

Alabama is a Stand Your Ground/Castle Doctrine state. The shooter can prove that the victim was committing a crime by breaking into his car. Unless the police can prove that the phone was stolen BY THE SHOOTER, the shooter only needs to establish that he thought his life was in danger.

his lost iPhone.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/man-from-london-is-murdered-while-tracking-his-stolen-cell-phone/article24976706/

But I guess that's just me, I find it really dumb. What a screwed up country we live in, or what ! would call it.....America.

Peace

They are what pocket watches were in the nineteenth century - an easy target for thieves.

Let alone killing someone over one.

Like iPhones, they have a high resale value, and they are status markers.

I wonder if the thief and murderer was a member of the congregation? If so, he can pray to be forgiven.