Posted on 12/07/2021 8:17:36 AM PST by Red Badger
In brief: When Apple launched the AirTags earlier this year, they seemed like a helpful tool to avoid losing valuable items like laptops, phones, tablets, or anything else. However, car thieves are now using them to track high-end vehicles, showing them the location of their target in real-time.
From September 2021 until now, the York Regional Police have already encountered five cases where suspects used Apple AirTags to track vehicles they were allegedly planning to steal. Thieves put the trackers on publically parked cars and situate the device in out-of-sight places, including trailer hitches, bumpers, and gas cap area. Thieves can then track the vehicle until they find it in a suitable location to steal, like the victim's residence.
Hiding Apple's AirTags in a car is only possible because of its compact shape and size. Its round shape and small dimension make hiding the tracker easier and quicker than actually stealing the car in a high-risk area. Applying an adhesive magnet to it makes placing it on any out-of-the-way place on the vehicle easy and fast.
To prevent AirTag owners from using Apple's tracker to stalk others, the manufacturer implemented countermeasures to hinder those who try. If your car has a thief's AirTag hidden somewhere and you have an iPhone, you can detect it in your vicinity. Even if you don't own an iPhone, the tracker will start emitting an alarm sound sometime between eight and 24 hours after moving from the owner's vicinity.
This time window is still more than enough time to steal the car, but you can use other measures to prevent thieves from succeeding in their objective. A couple of examples include parking your car in the garage instead of your driveway or using steering wheel locks to prevent them from driving, even if they can start it.
well I heard they drive around at night with their high beams on, and if you flash yours at them, they turn around and kill you. Gang initiation..../s
They call um iphones ;)
Apple says the tag will emit a sound (unless the Apple enabled thieves disable the emitter)
Apple say you can protect your car from Apple technology by parking in a garage, or using wheel locks.
So you don’t even have to buy Apple products to get screwed by them.
Our NextDoor site yesterday had an article saying that these Air Tags are being used by people to mark the cars of (for example) young drivers who might be later kidnapped into sex trafficking operations.
If true, it is very scary. It sounded like it is an organized deal where someone’s job is to tag the cars, and then someone else would later track them, hoping to find them in a dark or remote location, etc.
“Maybe Apple can now sell a tag detector to see if one is transmitting nearby.”
They do. It’s called an iPhone. Apple will notice a not-yours AirTag moving with you, and inform you accordingly.
Those who had cars stolen probably got and ignored the warning.
An iPhone detects all airtags? I thought they had to be paired or something.
Itags are child’s play.
I work in the buy here pay here used car market. Selling and recovering.
The equipment we have for tracking cars is much more advanced than a itag.
It’s cheap (less than 200 bucks a car) doesn’t tell anyone it’s there and uses cell networks for communication. Wireless options have been out for several years now.
Wow. I had researched this to put on my families cars, in case of accident or other unfortunate situation. I had no thought about someone else putting one on a car for stalking purposes.
I guess I am just too naïve.
I expected a rotary dial.
“Maybe Apple can now sell a tag detector to see if one is transmitting nearby.”
They do. iPhone.
Interesting, thx
But I suppose they are not available to the general public?.................
Shrink the tech, and imbed it into the bullet in a cartridge.
Mandate all ammo be so equipped.
The AirTags talk to Apple’s cloud service, which identifies iPhones moving with the tag but not otherwise related, and informs the phone’s owner.
Not much help if you have a Samsung.
If you find one of these tags on your car you can always reattach it to a neighborhood squirrel.
“Maybe Apple can now sell a tag detector to see if one is transmitting nearby.”
No need for Apple at all. They are available for Android also.
https://mashtips.com/android-airtag-finder-apps/
Just buy a manual.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.