A Canberra man who had his vehicle stolen was able to tell police exactly where it was after tracking his mobile phone, which was still in the car.
The man had left his car keys in a jumper inside the gym about 8.30pm on Friday night. It was noted in police documents he recalled a "heavy set male" enter the gym directly behind him.
Later that evening when he went to return to his car, it was gone. However, he was able to track its location by pinging his mobile phone.
Court documents revealed David Michael Evans, 31, of Palmerston, allegedly followed the man into the gym at Anytime Fitness in Dickson about 8.30pm on Friday night.
Evans is charged with vehicle theft and stealing and possessing stolen goods.
Police were able to locate the stolen green Ford utility driving along College Street in Bruce later that night, but soon lost it again. It was then sighted in Yarralumla.
The owner kept in constant contact with police providing them with location updates.
He informed them when the car stopped in a unit complex off Pinkerton Circuit in Kambah. When police attended the location they saw a different car leaving the area, and the phone was then pinging from the location of that car.
Police followed that car as the informant continued to tell police where his phone was pinging from.
Police then observed a small black object being thrown from the front passenger window of the vehicle. Police intercepted the car and arrested the driver who identified himself as Mr Evans.
Mr Evans denied the allegations. He was arrested and taken to the ACT Watch House.
Police allege the man was wearing the same jumper that was stolen from the gym earlier that evening.
Police searched the vehicle and located two credit cards in the name of the stolen vehicle's owner, two sets of keys attached to lanyards and two iPhones.
The stolen green Ford Falcon was located in a unit block off Pinkerton Circuit in Kambah.
In court on Saturday, it was revealed the man was currently on parole for similar offences.
The court heard the man has a "significant criminal history" in the ACT, NSW and Queensland.
He was described as a recidivist offender who was not deterred by previous penalties imposed.
The magistrate said the man had spent "most of the last five years in prison".
He was refused bail and will reappear before the court on Tuesday.