LOS ALAMOS, USA — In a modern twist on crime-solving, a California woman successfully used an Apple AirTag to track down the thieves who had been repeatedly stealing her mail, leading to their arrest on Monday, August 26, 2024, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office.
The woman, whose identity has not been disclosed, had previously been a victim of mail theft and decided to take matters into her own hands by using technology to catch the culprits.
After mailing herself a package containing an Apple AirTag, she became a repeat target on Monday but, thanks to the tracking device, was able to monitor the thieves’ movements in real time.
When deputies responded to a mail theft report at the local post office in Los Alamos that morning, they learned of the woman’s clever strategy.
The AirTag, a small Bluetooth-enabled device designed to track lost items, had been concealed in a package she sent to herself.
When the package was stolen again, the AirTag sent its location data to her iCloud account, allowing her to pinpoint its whereabouts on Apple’s Find My map.
“It is important to note that the victim did not attempt to contact the suspects on her own,” the sheriff’s office emphasised in a statement, highlighting the importance of allowing law enforcement to handle such situations.
The AirTag led deputies to nearby Santa Maria, where they found two suspects in possession of the stolen mail, including the package containing the AirTag, and additional items believed to have been stolen from more than a dozen other victims.
The suspects, identified as Virginia Franchessca Lara, 27, and Donald Ashton Terry, 37, were arrested in connection with the theft.
According to the sheriff’s office, Lara was booked on multiple felony charges, including possession of checks with intent to commit fraud, identity theft, and conspiracy, and remains in custody on a $50,000 bail.
Terry faces similar felony charges, including burglary and credit card theft, and is being held on a $460,000 bail.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office commended the AirTag’s owner for her “proactive solution” in helping to track down the thieves, noting that her actions played a crucial role in recovering stolen property and aiding the investigation.
Authorities are now working to contact other victims connected to the case.
This incident highlights the growing role of technology in crime prevention and detection, offering individuals new tools to protect their property while underscoring the importance of involving law enforcement in such efforts.
