The new technology that debuted last year, Apple AirTag, has been used to help consumers track their belongings such as luggage, keys, and belongings. However, recently throughout the country these devices have been used by criminals for activities such as stalking or tracking vehicles they want to steal. In another municipality in Montgomery County, one of these devices was used in an apparent stalking incident.
A person arriving home reported suspicious activity to the respective Police Department, that they received the following iMessage on their iPhone: “Unknown Accessory Detected – This Item Has Been Moving With You For A While.” When the victim went inside the home, additional messages were displayed; “Safety Alert, Your Current Location Can Be Seen By The Owner of This Item. You May be Carrying This Item, Or It Could Be Located Nearby. If This Item Is Unfamiliar To You, You Can Disable It And Stop Sharing Your Location.” The victim then received a map of the area that showed where the device was activated. The victim looked out their window and observed an unknown vehicle driving away slowly. There have been several similar stories from citizens across the country.
Apple AirTags are about the size of a quarter and are relatively inexpensive to acquire. Even though Apple AirTags are designed to discourage unwanted tracking, it can still occur. The Springfield Township Police urge everyone to be vigilant of their surroundings and if you receive a notification like this one, call 911 immediately.
