With Apple AirTags, users can track their belongings more effectively. Unfortunately, car thieves have found a new way of using AirTags to track and steal cars.
The Apple AirTag devices are being fitted to luxury cars parked in public areas, such as mall parking lots, by carjackers who use the information derived from the devices to locate the vehicle overnight before hotwiring them and driving off.
Here’s What To Do If Car Thieves Are Using AirTags To Track And Steal Cars
Apple products feature unique Bluetooth IDs that the owner can only trace. AirTag uses the My Find network of hundreds of millions of Apple devices to determine its approximate location.
It is helpful if you need to locate your ski boots or laptop. However, if someone else uses one for illegal purposes, such as automobile theft, knowing how to disarm it is helpful.
If you come across an AirTag while driving, tap and hold the top of your iPhone (or NFC-capable smartphone) to the white side of the AirTag. Tapping the notification will display information about the tag, such as its serial number.
If the owner has reported it missing, you can get a note with contact information. However, even if you are unaware of the AirTag, there is a built-in precaution.
Find My network alerts you if an unknown AirTag moves over time due to the device’s design to discourage unwanted tracking. If an AirTag is not with the person who registered it for an extended period, it will also play a sound when moved.”
It is, however, not audible if placed externally, such as in the trunk or the driveway, or from the outside of your home.
Your iPhone or iPad will likely display the “AirTag Found” or “AirTag Detected” notifications. Apple claims that in this situation, tapping that notification and then following the on-screen instructions will disable the AirTag. If you have safety concerns, Apple advises you to contact the police and coordinate with them to locate the owner. It may be necessary to have an AirTag or its serial number.
In one wealthy neighborhood north of Toronto, police have become aware of the practice of using AirTags to track and steal cars.
According to the York Regional Police Auto/Cargo Theft Unit, these thieves frequently participate in organized crime. They trace the car to its owner’s house at night. Thieves use screwdrivers or slim Jims to force entry through one of the front doors without triggering the car alarm.
The YRP has investigated five incidents since September in which officers placed $39 devices in hidden areas. Carjackers are adopting this tactic “all over the GTA” but focused on Aurora, probably because the municipality of roughly 62,000 has an average family income of $150,000 — nearly triple the national average — making it more probable that locals possess a high-end vehicle.
To prevent such theft, the York Regional Police Service offers the following advice:
- If at all feasible, keep the car in a secure garage. The majority of car thefts occur in driveways.
- The usage of a steering wheel lock will act as a visible deterrent.
- Install a data port lock underneath the dashboard. This cheap device is available online, preventing thieves from reprograming keys using the computer port.
- Invest in a high-quality video surveillance system.
Regularly inspect the car and report any suspicious tracking devices. Lexus S350, Ford F150, Toyota Highlander, and Honda C-RV owners, in particular, need to exercise extreme caution.
Also Read: Do car keys have tracking devices?
