AN iPad became a crime fighting tool after it was stolen from a Middleton house.

The homeowner discovered the iPad 2 was among a number of electrical items stolen from his house, including a TV and computer equipment on Saturday morning.

He told Victor Harbor police he "had a way of finding the persons responsible for the break-in", a police spokesman said.

"The technology-savvy owner had previously downloaded a free app available to iPad and iPod owners, that can track the (device's) exact location," he said.

"The owner and Victor Harbor police were then able to track the iPad and could see it was moving from the southern suburbs, back towards Adelaide, finally stopping and Grange."

Victor Harbor police relayed the information to Port Adelaide police and a patrol allegedly saw a stolen Ford sedan with two men inside.

The men fled, unaware they were still being tracked.

Police next caught up with them at Stacey St, Regency Park, where the car had stopped, and the police helicopter and a dog patrol were called in.

"Police raided a home in Stacey St and arrested the two men and recovered all the stolen property including the iPad," he said.

A North Haven man, 28, and a man of no fixed address, 36, were arrested and charged with breaking into the Middleton house, theft and illegal use of a motor vehicle.

The older man was refused police bail because of a parole board warrant and he is expected to appear in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court later today.

Originally published as iPad leads police to crooks