New York City Mayor Eric Adams is asking residents to use Apple AirTags to help fight vehicle theft. The mayor made the request on Sunday, saying that the small, coin-sized tracking devices could help police recover stolen cars.
AirTags can be attached to or hidden inside a vehicle, and they use Bluetooth technology to send out a signal that can be picked up by other Apple devices. This allows users to track the location of their AirTags in the Find My app.
Adams said that a nonprofit organization in New York has donated 500 AirTags to the city, which will be distributed to residents for free. He also said that the NYPD is working on a plan to make it easier for residents to get their hands on AirTags.
Vehicle theft has been on the rise in New York City in recent months. In January, there were over 1,000 car thefts reported, up 10% from the same month last year.
Adams said that he hopes that by using AirTags, the city can crack down on car theft and make it easier for residents to get their stolen cars back.
“It’s a really amazing piece of ingenuity,” Adams said at a press conference Sunday.
The New York City Police Department shared a video Sunday demonstrating how residents can use an AirTag to protect their vehicles. Jeffrey Maddrey, the chief of the department, wrote in a tweet that the “21st century calls for 21st century policing.”
“AirTags in your car will help us recover your vehicle if it’s stolen,” the NYPD tweet said. “We’ll use our drones, our StarChase technology & good old fashion police work to safely recover your stolen car. Help us help you, get an AirTag”
The 21st century calls for 21st century policing. AirTags in your car will help us recover your vehicle if it’s stolen. We’ll use our drones, our StarChase technology & good old fashion police work to safely recover your stolen car. Help us help you, get an AirTag. #GSD pic.twitter.com/fTfk8p4lye
— NYPD Chief of Department (@NYPDChiefOfDept) April 30, 2023
Adams said Sunday that AirTags are an “excellent” tracking device that he believes will help slow rates of car theft in the city.
“Using technology to fight crime, protect people, save property is the direction this administration and this police department is going in,” Adams said Sunday.
MacDailyNews Take: Good advice in this unfortunate day and age.
Here’s a tried and true idea: If someone gets caught stealing a vehicle, they get 5 years minimum, no bail, and no option for early release. Watch vehicle thefts drop like a rock.
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When I was in college, someone who graduated and moved to NYC came back to give a talk about life in NYC, and she said “If you live in NYC, you’re crazy to have a car.”
Years later when I moved to NYC myself, I saw exactly what she was talking about. She was right.
I don’t get it. Wouldn’t the AirTag warn the thief’s iPhone that there is an AirTag in close proximity in the stolen car? The thief would search to find the tag and dump it right then.
It all depends on how soon you notice your vehicle is missing. If it takes several days for you to notice a missing car, then AirTags are prolly useless. But I’m guessing most people will notice their car is gone missing pretty quickly, and having an AirTag on board will allow you to locate it almost instantly. Just attach to a magnet and hide the thing inside the engine compartment or something.
I was thinking the same thing.
Last week I went on a bike ride with 2 other people and got a notification that I was being tracked with someone else’s AirTag. It kind of creeped me out. I get creeped out when I see a wilderness camera or any video camera that might be monitoring me.
While I am 100% against stealing cars, I’m not sure IF this is the correct solution. It might be but it feels like a privacy violation, or at least a significant privacy intrusion on those of use who are law abiding.
I’ll sit back and hear what others have to say. Am open to hearing all sides.
Apple at least notifies you, in an effort to avoid stalking. None of the other trackers will even give you a warning.
I solved that problem with 2 simple things. 1. I removed the speaker from the active AirTag. 2. I placed a broken AirTag in a relatively easy to find hiding spot.
When the thief gets the message, he will find the broken tag and think he’s got it, meanwhile the active tag is still there.
Mayor Adams finished his statement by saying; the cops are busy offering counseling sessions to those trying to meet unmet needs (criminals)…by absorbing products from rich business owners whom were unwilling to share.
Huh?