Apple's AirTag was able to assist the Boston Police in recovering a man's stolen bicycle. The authorities were able to track down the AirTag that the owner had stowed inside the bag attached to the bike.
Apple's AirTag Helps Recover Stolen Bike
On July 4, Gene Gorter's bicycle was stolen from outside his house in Boston, Massachusetts. The next day, he called the Boston Police department to report the incident. He also gave the police his AirTag information.
The Apple AirTag was safely placed inside a pouch that was attached to the bike's frame. Gorter and the police were hopeful that the thief would miss the AirTag so they could track it down.
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According to GadgetLife, that is exactly what happened. The police were able to successfully locate Gorter's bike, the bag, and the AirTag inside it by using an iPhone.
The bike was then recovered near a trashcan after the thief abandoned it, and they discovered the bag and the AirTag still attached to it, according to iMore.
The police assume that the thief did not find anything stolen inside the bag, so they ditched it. Fortunately, the thief did not notice the AirTag inside the bag.
Although the AirTag worked well for Gorter, Apple does not recommend using it as an anti-theft device, nor does the company recommend using it to track pets or children.
AirTag Spying Concerns
Apple's AirTag was announced at the Spring Loaded event in April 2021. It is being sold for $29, but you can purchase a four-pack for $99.
The small, circular tracker is made to be clipped to commonly misplaced objects, such as keys, luggage, backpacks, and other items.
However, concerns were surrounding the device, pointing out that it could be used to track people secretly. As a response to this, Apple released a software update for AirTags.
AirTags will now beep if it is away from the owner's iPhone, at a random time between 8 and 24 hours, to alert people that there is an AirTag nearby. The device will automatically update once it is close to the owner's iPhone, according to Ubergizmo.
The device is small enough to be placed inside a coat pocket, a pouch, or a bag, and people stated that some owners could misuse it.
People with Android smartphones won't be able to see an on-screen warning, as only Apple users will get the notification.
Several reviewers of the device said that they had used it to track their friends and family successfully. Kirk McElhearn wrote on Intego that he had posted one of the trackers to a friend living in London.
After the AirTag was delivered, the friend left the package on his kitchen counter. McElheam added that his AirTag failed to alert his friend of its presence, and after four days in his house, the device still didn't produce any noise.
Some reviewers have also suggested that the 15-second beeps were not loud enough and that other noises drown it out.
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Written by Sophie Webster
