A carpenter has provided police with the key to cracking a multi-million dollar theft case — and it all happened thanks to some hidden Apple AirTags.
The 43-year-old from Virginia, who spoke anonymously to the Washington Post, said he decided to hide the Bluetooth tracking devices – which are typically used to help people keep tabs on things like luggage and keys – after he’d been the victim of previous tool thefts.
How to get alerts for unknown AirTags on an Android
The man hid the AirTags in his remaining tools, and when these too were taken they helped him lead police to a storage locker filled with stolen goods. The discovery led police to more locations, which in turn resulted in the recovery of tools worth a total of $3-$5 million, per a Howard County police press release.
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“#HoCoPolice have recovered approximately 15,000 stolen construction tools totaling $3-$5 million in what is believed to be one of the largest and most expansive theft cases in the region in recent years,” wrote the post on X (formerly Twitter).
Although this is an example of a positive use, Apple is currently working with Google to stop AirTags – and other Bluetooth trackers – from being used for stalking. As of last December, it seemed that the companies were getting closer to reaching a solution.
Once finalised, the end result will likely allow people to detect unknown tracking devices without having to download extra apps.
