New York City Battles Car Thefts with Apple AirTag and Drones

New York City officials are turning to technology in the fight against rising car thefts. The latest solution is Apple’s AirTag item tracker, which can be used to track lost items, such as keys, wallets, and now cars.

Mayor Eric Adams recently announced a program to distribute 500 AirTags to New York City residents in an effort to discourage carjackings and counteract thefts. The AirTags, donated by the nonprofit Association for Better New York, will be handed out discreetly to citizens across the city, with a focus on areas with the highest rates of grand larceny auto.

The 21st century calls for 21st century policing. AirTags in your car will help us recover your vehicle if it’s stolen. We’ll use our drones, our StarChase technology & good old fashion police work to safely recover your stolen car. Help us help you, get an AirTag. #GSD pic.twitter.com/fTfk8p4lye

— NYPD Chief of Department (@NYPDChiefOfDept) April 30, 2023

The Bronx has seen a 24% increase in car thefts this year compared to last, making it a prime candidate for the AirTag program. City officials are hoping that more citizens placing AirTags in their cars will make them easily trackable by their owners and help deter thieves.

Mayor Adams called the AirTag program a “really amazing piece of ingenuity” and emphasized its simplicity as a device that can be hidden in a car and easily monitored by its owner. “You can see in real-time where the vehicle is located”, he said.

However, there are some potential flaws with the AirTag program. While it’s designed to emit a sound when separated from its owner within a certain time frame, it’s possible that this could alert thieves to the tracking device. Officials are encouraging citizens to place the AirTags in discreet locations in their cars to prevent this from happening.

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Despite these potential issues, the AirTag program is just one of many efforts by New York City officials to combat the rising rates of car thefts. The NYPD has also been using drones to monitor high-crime areas and identify potential suspects.

As technology continues to evolve, it’s likely that we’ll see more innovative solutions like AirTag and drones being used to combat crime in cities around the world. However, it’s important to balance the benefits of technology with potential privacy concerns and other ethical considerations.