Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution/Apple
Apple has already shipped several updates to prevent the nefarious use of AirTags, but the small tracking device keeps causing stalking concerns worldwide.
The most recent case comes from San Antonio, where a Toyota owner discovered an AirTag planted behind her car's license plate.
Annie Rodriguez told the local media that it all started when a mysterious woman was caught on camera walking around her Toyota by a surveillance system at work. The woman inspected the roof and appeared particularly interested in hard-to-reach spots, at one point even checking out the wheel well.
If you've been following AirTag stalking news, you probably know already that the wheel well is a common place for secretly planting Apple's trackers on victims' cars.
Rodriguez spotted the woman again the next day, this time parking her car next to her Toyota. The woman stepped out of the vehicle, walked around it one more time, and stopped behind it. It was the moment when Rodrigues decided to call the cops.
Police started inspecting the Toyota but couldn't find anything wrong. The woman still didn't feel safe, so she searched online for places to hide an AirTag. She inspected the car herself and eventually discovered an AirTag behind the license plate – I wonder why the police did not look behind the license plate, as it's one of the most common places to plant an AirTag without the owner knowing about it.
She called the police again, and the officers started an investigation, this time involving Apple. Police contacted the iPhone maker and asked for AirTag owner information, eventually tracking down a woman named Mary Mojica. Investigators discovered that Mojica was the girlfriend of Rodriguez's ex.
The local media reports that police booked Mojica for unlawful installation of a tracking device, but the case was eventually dismissed. The press contacted the DA's office, and it turns out the case has been refiled.
The case leaves us with three things. One, you should always thoroughly inspect the car yourselves, as the police sometimes fail to look even in the most obvious places. Two, Apple can and will help law enforcement find an AirTag owner. And three, if you think you're in danger, call the cops immediately, as an AirTag planted on your car can be a sign that someone is tracking your every move, likely not with good intentions.
Apple has owner information thanks to the Apple ID associated with the AirTag. The Cupertino-based tech giant has already confirmed it's working with police to offer owner data when a warrant is provided, and while this is certainly good news, it's also a lengthy process that often leaves the victim exposed to whatever nefarious purposes the criminal had in mind when they planted the AirTag.
Annie Rodriguez told the local media that it all started when a mysterious woman was caught on camera walking around her Toyota by a surveillance system at work. The woman inspected the roof and appeared particularly interested in hard-to-reach spots, at one point even checking out the wheel well.
If you've been following AirTag stalking news, you probably know already that the wheel well is a common place for secretly planting Apple's trackers on victims' cars.
Rodriguez spotted the woman again the next day, this time parking her car next to her Toyota. The woman stepped out of the vehicle, walked around it one more time, and stopped behind it. It was the moment when Rodrigues decided to call the cops.
Police started inspecting the Toyota but couldn't find anything wrong. The woman still didn't feel safe, so she searched online for places to hide an AirTag. She inspected the car herself and eventually discovered an AirTag behind the license plate – I wonder why the police did not look behind the license plate, as it's one of the most common places to plant an AirTag without the owner knowing about it.
She called the police again, and the officers started an investigation, this time involving Apple. Police contacted the iPhone maker and asked for AirTag owner information, eventually tracking down a woman named Mary Mojica. Investigators discovered that Mojica was the girlfriend of Rodriguez's ex.
The local media reports that police booked Mojica for unlawful installation of a tracking device, but the case was eventually dismissed. The press contacted the DA's office, and it turns out the case has been refiled.
The case leaves us with three things. One, you should always thoroughly inspect the car yourselves, as the police sometimes fail to look even in the most obvious places. Two, Apple can and will help law enforcement find an AirTag owner. And three, if you think you're in danger, call the cops immediately, as an AirTag planted on your car can be a sign that someone is tracking your every move, likely not with good intentions.
Apple has owner information thanks to the Apple ID associated with the AirTag. The Cupertino-based tech giant has already confirmed it's working with police to offer owner data when a warrant is provided, and while this is certainly good news, it's also a lengthy process that often leaves the victim exposed to whatever nefarious purposes the criminal had in mind when they planted the AirTag.
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