NYC Plans to Give Out 500 Apple AirTags to Stop Car Theft

The government of New York City is trying a new method to deter car thefts, Apple AirTags.

According to New York City’s mayor, Eric Adams, a nonprofit organization donated 500 AirTags to be delivered to residents in the city that own vehicles.

AirTags are tracking devices produced by Apple to help consumers track and locate their belongings.

Mayor Eric Adams stated that the AirTags will be given out by police officers focusing on the 43th Precinct in the Bronx, an area with high crime rates.

“We’re going to be handing them out in this precinct, which is really spiking in grand larceny autos,” Adams said at a press conference on Sunday.

Although Apple AirTags have a history of being misused by consumers, the New York City government is confident that the “excellent tracking device” will help reduce the amount of stolen cars.

Reports of stalking and placing the devices on individuals’ belongings without their knowledge came to light prompting Apple to address the situation back in February, Fox News reported. “AirTag was designed to help people locate their personal belongings, not to track people or another person’s property, and we condemn in the strongest possible terms any malicious use of our products. Unwanted tracking has long been a societal problem, and we took this concern seriously in the design of AirTag.”