In a remarkable incident, Apple's affordable AirTag, priced under $30, proved to be the hero for a Florida family on vacation.
The Gavino family transformed their North Carolina mountain getaway into a full-fledged detective mission to retrieve their stolen luggage, all thanks to the tiny device.
This recent tracking using this item tracker is only one of many instances showing that this can be useful in many scenarios.
AirTag Inside the Luggage
Upon landing at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, the Gavino family faced the distressing situation of a missing bag at the baggage claim. However, Catherine Gavino had a savvy plan in place - she had discreetly placed an AirTag inside the luggage.
Tracking Down the Culprit
Leveraging the AirTag's location data, Catherine successfully traced the missing luggage to a residence in Gastonia, North Carolina, according to an initial report by Queen City News. Taking matters into her own hands, she promptly reached the location and contacted the police upon arrival.
Coordinating with the police, Catherine informed them about the situation, leading to the discovery of not only the Gavino family's suitcase but also another victim's luggage stolen from the airport. The Gastonia Police confirmed a similar case involving an AirTag.
Suitcase Recovered But Not All of the Items
Although the recovered suitcase had been partially emptied, Catherine expressed relief at reclaiming the luggage itself and pursuing justice. The suspect responsible for multiple theft crimes was apprehended, highlighting the effectiveness of the AirTag in aiding law enforcement.
"Police believe they may have sold the clothes for money, who knows," Catherine told the authorities.
AirTag Success Stories
This incident adds to a growing list of successful deployments of AirTags in thwarting criminals, per 9to5Mac. From recovering stolen cars to locating a bull statue pilfered from a Texas Taco restaurant, Apple's compact tracking device continues to showcase its prowess in crime prevention.
The Gavino family's experience reinforces the value of affordable and accessible technology in enhancing security and ensuring a swift response to criminal activities.
Aside from locating the stolen luggage at the airport, a Memphis resident successfully detected the location of his stolen car.
Back in 2022, Joshua Wylie said that someone attempted to carjack him. Luckily, he installed a surveillance camera which served as an eye to the crime. Using an Apple AirTag, the driver easily identified the whereabouts of the thief.
While AirTags are frequently praised for their effectiveness, researchers said that the public should still be concerned on how it can really do when put in bad use.
In our October report, we tackled that some users were using AirTags to stalk and harass other people. Unknowingly, the trackers are put inside the bags or cars without the individuals' knowledge.
