High Technology Solution to Cargo Theft: Use of AirTag

High-Tech Solution to Cargo and Package Theft

Cargo and package theft, which has become a widespread problem globally, took an interesting turn with a high-tech solution trial by a woman from California. By utilizing Apple’s AirTag tracking devices, this woman developed a new approach to the issue, resulting in the arrest of two individuals.

According to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office in California, two suspects were detained last week on suspicion of mail theft. Tired of constantly losing her incoming items, a victim decided to track the movements of her sent packages using AirTag tracking devices. Authorities stated that a package that did not reach its intended destination was tracked all the way to a private home in California’s Santa Maria area.

When police officers entered the home, they found mail belonging to more than a dozen individuals that had not been sent to that address. Among these was a package containing the lost AirTag. Local police identified the suspects as 27-year-old Virginia Franchessca Lara from Santa Maria and 37-year-old Donald Ashton Terry from Riverside. They continued:

• Lara was arrested on charges of possession of checks for fraudulent purposes, counterfeit checks, identity theft, credit card theft, and conspiracy. She is awaiting release on a $50,000 bail.
• Terry was arrested on charges of theft, possession of checks for fraudulent purposes, credit card theft, identity theft, and conspiracy, and is facing several arrest warrants related to theft from Riverside County. He remains detained on a $460,000 bail.

While the sheriff’s department did not comment beyond their statements, it appears that the victim carefully set up her own AirTag account before sending the device. The development of the incident has been praised for involving police forces in mail tracking using the victim’s device, although it has been noted that similar situations do not always end so smoothly.

For instance, in a similar incident that occurred in San Francisco, when a bicycle equipped with a tracking device was stolen, the police refused to follow up on the matter. Furthermore, the fact that AirTags can be used for malicious purposes should also be considered. Apple is currently dealing with numerous lawsuits filed by victims who claim they were harassed by jealous ex-lovers using these devices for tracking.