AirTag used by Boston police to recover stolen bike
The Boston Police were able to recover a man's stolen bicycle by tracking down an AirTag that the owner had cleverly stowed inside the bike's bag.
Image Credit: Boston Police/Gene Gorter
On the night of July 4, Gene Gorter's bike was stolen from outside his home in Boston. The following day, he contacted the Boston Police department to report the theft. He also provided the officers with his AirTag information.
The AirTag was stowed inside a pouch that was attached to his bicycle. Placed within the pouch instead of on show on the bike's frame, the hope was that a thief would miss the AirTag and so police might be able to track it.
And, according to GadgetLite that's exactly what happened -- police were able to locate the bicycle, the bag, and the AirTag by using an iPhone. The bike was recovered near a trashcan, which contained both the bag and the AirTag.
Police assume that the thief did not find anything useful in the bag, so they simply ditched it. Fortunately, this meant they also didn't discover the AirTag.
While it certainly worked out well for Gorter, it's important to remember that Apple does not recommend using AirTag as an anti-theft device, nor does it recommend using it to keep track of children or pets.
AirTag was announced at Apple's "Spring Loaded" event in April of 2021. It is available to purchase for $29, or can be bought in a four-pack for $99.
The small, circular trackers are designed to be clipped to commonly misplaced objects, such as luggage, keys, backpacks, and more. AppleInsider praised it for its ease of use and thoughtful privacy features, rating it a 4.5 out of 5.
Keep up with everything Apple in the weekly AppleInsider Podcast -- and get a fast news update from AppleInsider Daily. Just say, "Hey, Siri," to your HomePod mini and ask for these podcasts, and our latest HomeKit Insider episode too.If you want an ad-free main AppleInsider Podcast experience, you can support the AppleInsider podcast by subscribing for $5 per month through Apple's Podcasts app, or via Patreon if you prefer any other podcast player.
Image Credit: Boston Police/Gene Gorter
On the night of July 4, Gene Gorter's bike was stolen from outside his home in Boston. The following day, he contacted the Boston Police department to report the theft. He also provided the officers with his AirTag information.
The AirTag was stowed inside a pouch that was attached to his bicycle. Placed within the pouch instead of on show on the bike's frame, the hope was that a thief would miss the AirTag and so police might be able to track it.
And, according to GadgetLite that's exactly what happened -- police were able to locate the bicycle, the bag, and the AirTag by using an iPhone. The bike was recovered near a trashcan, which contained both the bag and the AirTag.
Police assume that the thief did not find anything useful in the bag, so they simply ditched it. Fortunately, this meant they also didn't discover the AirTag.
While it certainly worked out well for Gorter, it's important to remember that Apple does not recommend using AirTag as an anti-theft device, nor does it recommend using it to keep track of children or pets.
AirTag was announced at Apple's "Spring Loaded" event in April of 2021. It is available to purchase for $29, or can be bought in a four-pack for $99.
The small, circular trackers are designed to be clipped to commonly misplaced objects, such as luggage, keys, backpacks, and more. AppleInsider praised it for its ease of use and thoughtful privacy features, rating it a 4.5 out of 5.
Keep up with everything Apple in the weekly AppleInsider Podcast -- and get a fast news update from AppleInsider Daily. Just say, "Hey, Siri," to your HomePod mini and ask for these podcasts, and our latest HomeKit Insider episode too.If you want an ad-free main AppleInsider Podcast experience, you can support the AppleInsider podcast by subscribing for $5 per month through Apple's Podcasts app, or via Patreon if you prefer any other podcast player.
Comments
P.S. Any person owning a Honda or a Heavy Duty pickup in Pierce County, WA desperately needs to do this. The amount of Hondas and heavy duty pickups around Tacoma and its suburbs that are stolen daily just amazes me to no end.