Vermont Authorities Alert Residents to Check For Hidden AirTags In Vehicles After Their Trip to Canada

Despite being intended for users to keep track of their personal belongings, such as keys, luggage, and other everyday items, the AirTags have also been linked to instances of vehicle theft over the years. In response, Apple has introduced a new feature that alerts users if their AirTag is traveling with them. Recently, there have been reports in Montreal, Canada of thieves using AirTags to facilitate vehicle theft, and authorities in Vermont have taken notice of this issue.

Criminals in Montreal, Canada are using AirTags to steal and track vehicles

Apple has announced a feature for iPhone and Android users that notifies them if an AirTag is being used to track their movements. Despite its efficiency, the feature does not completely eliminate the risk of theft. According to reports from news outlets WCAX and NBCS (via 9to5mac), the police in Burlington, Vermont have warned drivers who have recently traveled to Canada about the potential threat of hidden AirTags on their vehicles.

During a trip to Montreal, two individuals from Burlington came across AirTags in their car. According to authorities, this was not an isolated incident. Ethan Yang, who had visited Montreal to see his family, returned home only to receive a notification on his phone about an AirTag tracking him. Using his iPhone and Find My app, Yang was able to locate the AirTag in his vehicle.

He says these incidents have been going on for a while but they’re noticing a new spike, where criminals in Montreal use the technology to track cars, steal them, and sell them.

“Criminals are increasingly using technology to target individuals and sometimes just knowing the basic security features of those devices can go a long way,” he said.

According to Ryan McLiverty, a cyber analyst at the Vermont Intelligence Center, there has been a recent increase in thefts involving the use of AirTag accessories. This trend has been ongoing for some time, as thieves have been placing AirTags in cars to track them and then steal and sell them internationally. Travelers should be vigilant and monitor their iPhone or Android notifications, as Apple has developed a feature that can detect AirTags that are not owned by the user but are traveling with them. We will provide updates as more information becomes available.