With nearly 4,500 car thefts so far this year, NYC is handing out free Apple AirTag trackers

[Kamaji]

With nearly 4,500 car thefts so far this year, NYC is handing out free Apple AirTag trackers

By Haley Brown and Jorge Fitz-Gibbon
April 30, 2023

New York City will give out free Apple AirTags to residents as part of an effort to pump the brakes on rampant car thefts, Mayor Eric Adams announced Sunday.

Calling the GPS tracking devices a “really amazing piece of ingenuity,” the mayor said 500 of the gadgets donated by a local nonprofit will be doled out to New Yorkers, including in the NYPD’s 43th Precinct in The Bronx — which has been hit particularly hard by the carjacking scourge.

“The aggravated number of grand larceny autos continues to drive up crime in our city,” said Adams, joined by police officials, at a press conference, while noting that other major crimes — such as shootings, homicides and robberies and larcenies — have been on the downturn.

“This simple device, this simple AirTag, hidden in a car location that a person is not aware, of is an excellent tracking device,” Adams said. “It’s easy to monitor. You can see in real-time where the vehicle is located.”

A video posted by the NYPD later in the day demonstrated how the devices would help cops track a stolen vehicle and encouraged motorists to go out and buy the AirTag units on their own.

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Source:  https://nypost.com/2023/04/30/nyc-to-give-away-airtag-gps-devices-to-help-fight-big-apple-car-thefts/

[Kamaji]

[Gefn]

I’ve seen people put air tags on their dog’s and cat’s collars.

But a car?

[GtHawk]

I’ve seen people put air tags on their dog’s and cat’s collars.

But a car?

Well there was that story about a guy who used one to track his stolen truck? and then ended up killing the the thief, don't recall where though.

[Cyber Liberty]

How useful is a tracking device for cars that has a range that short?

[Kamaji]

How useful is a tracking device for cars that has a range that short?

It sounds like it'd be more useful for finding one's car in a crowded parking lot, rather than tracing a stolen vehicle.

But then again, liberals don't think too rationally in the first place - if they did, they wouldn't be liberals.