New York and San Antonio cops differ on tracking stolen cars with Airtags
New York City police recently gave out free AirTags to cut down on vehicle theft, and just days after that announcement San Antonio law enforcement has advised against using the trackers.
Be cautious when using AirTags to track stolen items
Vehicle thefts are on the rise in some states, so much so that New York City handed out free AirTags to residents so they can track their vehicles. Vehicles are also being stolen in San Antonio, Texas, but police urge caution when using Apple's tracking technology.
Victims may be tempted to use an AirTag to track their vehicle to the thief's location to confront them, but that can be dangerous. Instead, victims of vehicle thefts should report the crime to the police as soon as possible, said officer Ricardo Guzman, a spokesman for the San Antonio Police Department.
In the meantime, if someone discovers a stolen vehicle without the assistance of law enforcement, they too should call the police right away, according to the San Antonio Express-News.
Five Kia models, including the Optima, Soul, Forte, Rio, and Sportage, topped the list of most stolen vehicles in March. With the Sonata and Elantra, which was the most stolen vehicle, Hyundais also made the list. The second-most stolen cars were Ford F-series pickup trucks.
According to San Antonio police, some social media videos showing how to steal Kia and Hyundai model cars that lack an engine immobilizer -- an electronic security feature that prevents a vehicle from being started without the proper key -- may be a factor in the rise in vehicle thefts.
Hyundai has a free anti-theft software upgrade for specific models in response to increasing thefts. Nearly four million vehicles are eligible, with models as far back as 2011.
Read on AppleInsider
Be cautious when using AirTags to track stolen items
Vehicle thefts are on the rise in some states, so much so that New York City handed out free AirTags to residents so they can track their vehicles. Vehicles are also being stolen in San Antonio, Texas, but police urge caution when using Apple's tracking technology.
Victims may be tempted to use an AirTag to track their vehicle to the thief's location to confront them, but that can be dangerous. Instead, victims of vehicle thefts should report the crime to the police as soon as possible, said officer Ricardo Guzman, a spokesman for the San Antonio Police Department.
In the meantime, if someone discovers a stolen vehicle without the assistance of law enforcement, they too should call the police right away, according to the San Antonio Express-News.
Five Kia models, including the Optima, Soul, Forte, Rio, and Sportage, topped the list of most stolen vehicles in March. With the Sonata and Elantra, which was the most stolen vehicle, Hyundais also made the list. The second-most stolen cars were Ford F-series pickup trucks.
According to San Antonio police, some social media videos showing how to steal Kia and Hyundai model cars that lack an engine immobilizer -- an electronic security feature that prevents a vehicle from being started without the proper key -- may be a factor in the rise in vehicle thefts.
Hyundai has a free anti-theft software upgrade for specific models in response to increasing thefts. Nearly four million vehicles are eligible, with models as far back as 2011.
Read on AppleInsider
Comments
That's an overly broad statement and not correct without a lot of qualification. So much so that "always" is a bad choice. Stated as such it falls into the "just because you can, doesn't mean you should" category. But I agree with making a home more resistant to burglars and invasion.
I'm unfamiliar with solid fiberglass doors but to possible caveats come to mind. One is the door jamb is traditionally the weakest part of any entryway. Unless the door is properly framed in the first place even the typical recommendation of 4"+ screws can fall short.
With a sufficiently reinforced jam and 'glass door could Fire personnel enter? How's it respond to a strongly swung axe? Like I said I have no experience with this type of door.
I don't know about most but there have been a lot of news articles nationwide about police recovering someone's iPhone or iPad using Find My without the criminal every harming the victim. There have been a number of false alarms but that hasn't completely stopped police involvement.
But as far as 'Tagging your car, the ability to tell the police "my car is at _____" especially if it's occupied makes the job pretty easy for them. Just hang back and don't approach the crook and stay on the phone with the police. That's no guarantee that they'll get there in time but it's much better than risking your life over property. Or being arrested because you mistakenly (or deliberately) cross the line from good guy to bad guy.
That’s the same message as NYC is giving. Don’t confront thieves, call the police. This article contains no quotes from anyone in San Antonio saying not to use an AirTag. The closest it gets is saying people might be tempted to confront someone, but don’t do that.
Again, that article says nothing about not using AirTags.
What happens to a car that is stolen?