How A Pair Of AirPods Helped Police Track Down Car Thieves

A man in New Hampshire reportedly tracked down his stolen car using a pair of AirPods and Apple‘s ‘Find My’ network. Over the years, many AirPods and AirTags users have used Apple’s ‘Find My’ technology to locate not only missing luggage but even cars and trucks. One such incident happened earlier this year when noted Formula One driver Sebastian Vettel used the Find My app to track down thieves and recover his AirPods. According to reports, Vettel was in Barcelona for the Spanish Grand Prix when his backpack containing important documents, his passport, driver’s license, credit cards, AirPods, and more, was stolen.

Apple’s AirTags have proven useful in tracking down people’s lost and stolen belongings, but they also have a more checkered history, as the devices have been used numerous times to steal cars by tracking their location. To make matters worse, some people have even reportedly been using them to stalk unsuspecting victims by putting these little trackers in their coats, bags, or cars. Apple has pushed out multiple updates following such reports to prevent nefarious uses of its Bluetooth trackers. In April, the company rolled out a new AirTags firmware update to tune the unwanted tracking sound to help people more easily locate unknown AirTags in their vicinity.

Related: How To Find Lost AirPods Pro 2 (Or Charging Case) With The Find My App

Police in New Hampshire arrested two suspects on Sunday, Nov. 28 for allegedly stealing a car two days prior. According to local TV station WMUR, the vehicle was stolen after Concorde, NH resident Mike McCormack left his car unlocked outside his apartment and went inside to grab a water bottle. When he went back outside, the vehicle was gone. Two days after the incident, McCormack remembered that he had left his AirPods in the car and decided to check if he could trace them using the ‘Find My’ app on his iPhone.

AirPods Help Track Down Lost Car

Talking to WMUR-TV about the incident, McCormack said that the AirPods “just… popped up and said they found location on East Road in Weare, New Hampshire. And I was like, ‘let’s get them right now.'” The car was eventually tracked to a dead-end street in Weare, NH, and the police arrested Concorde residents Frederick Estes, 26, and Anna Heine, 40, after a short chase. The two are facing multiple charges, including receiving stolen property, resisting arrest, possession of a controlled drug, and more.

Apple designed AirPods as an audio accessory to help iPhone users listen to music and podcasts without having to use large and cumbersome wired headphones. However, the addition of the Find My network not only helps users locate lost and misplaced AirPods, but also helps the earbuds double up as an effective tracker, as has been demonstrated on multiple occasions already.

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Source: WMUR