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How Steve Jobs' Stolen iPad Wound Up With Kenny the Clown

In a strange turn of events, Steve Jobs' stolen iPad wound up in the hands of a Bay Area performer dubbed "Kenny the Clown."

August 17, 2012

In a strange turn of events, Steve Jobs' stolen iPad wound up in the hands of a Bay Area performer dubbed "Kenny the Clown."

Let us explain. The 47-year-old performer, whose real name is Kenneth Kahn, had the iPad for a few days this month without even the slightest clue that it once belonged to the late Apple CEO, according to the San Jose Mercury News. It wasn't until the friend who gave him the iPad was that Kahn realized to whom the device actually belonged.

Police reportedly said Kariem McFarlin, 35, gave Kahn, a longtime friend, the silver 64GB iPad that was stolen from Jobs's Palo Alto home. McFarlin also allegedly gifted another stolen iPad to his daughter. Both devices were returned to the Jobs family home following McFarlin's arrest earlier this month.

So what did Kenny the Clown do with Jobs's iPad? He didn't use it to search for top secret corporate documents, surf the Internet, or even play games. He loaded iTunes to play Michael Jackson and the "Pink Panther" theme song to entertain children and tourists during his clown routine.

"I didn't notice anything special or anything like that," Kahn told the San Jose Mercury News. "It was silver; it looked normal. I was basically using it like an iPod."

Kahn reportedly had the device for three to four days before police showed up at his door to ask for it back. He has known McFarlin for more than 10 years and says his friend is not "any type of menace" and just made a big mistake.

"He's a nice guy who made a horrible, horrible decision," Kahn told the newspaper. "I wish I could ask him: 'What were you thinking?'"

McFarlin allegedly on July 17 using a spare key he found on the property. He stands accused of making off with more than $60,000 worth of goods, including iPods, Macs, Tiffany & Co. jewelry, and even Jobs's wallet and driver's license. McFarlin is now in jail and will face the judge on Monday.

For more, see and the Greatest Victories of Steve Jobs slideshow below.