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. #GSDpic.twitter.com/fTfk8p4lye
— NYPD Chief of Department (@NYPDChiefOfDept) April 30, 2023
While the city recommends putting the AirTags in a discreet location inside cars so that the thief doesn’t know it is there and can’t remove it, the problem is that an AirTag will make a sound after being separated from its owner after eight to 24 hours. That noise could alert a car thief that the car he stole is being tracked. At that point, the thief could find a spot to park the car and leave it (best scenario) or he can dismantle the car in an attempt to find the AirTag so that he can get rid of it. At the same time that the AirTag makes a sound, a notification is sent out to a nearby iPhone.
Officials are hoping that this plan will lower the growth in car thefts or even reverse it. Getting the word out is just the first step and NYC officials and the NYPD must continually promote this program in order for thieves to know that it exists. So far this year there have been 4,500 cars stolen in New York City. and Mayor Adams noted that the increase in grand larceny auto cases has led to an increase in New York City crime
The mayor said, “The aggravated number of grand larceny autos continues to drive up crime in our city. This simple device, this simple AirTag, hidden in a car location that a person is not aware, of is an excellent tracking device. It’s easy to monitor. You can see in real-time where the vehicle is located.”
