The District of Columbia government is rolling out a program to distribute free Apple AirTags to residents. The stated purpose is to help locate stolen cars more quickly.
DC has been facing a wave of crime ever since the 2020 riots. Murders and property theft has been on the rise. The nationwide push for progressive District Attorneys has also made prosecuting crime more difficult. DCist reports:
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced a new program Wednesday that will provide free tracking tags for residents in certain neighborhoods to put on their cars, making them easier to locate if they get stolen.
The tracking tags — which are literally Apple AirTags — will be distributed to residents living in neighborhoods with high numbers of vehicle theft. They’ll be offered at three different events over the coming months. Proof of residency and an address that corresponds with an eligible police service area will be required to receive a tag. (You can check your PSA here.)
While AirTags do a good job at location lost items, they inherently have some weaknesses. Location relies on other iPhones to ping the device, and are able to be disabled so as not to act as a tracker. AirTags also do not work with Android phones, limiting their usefulness. PC Mag continues:
To obtain the tags, residents will have to attend one of three scheduled distribution events next week where officers will install the device on the resident’s cars and help them set up the tracking tag on their mobile devices.
“Our goal is not just to prevent carjackings and motor vehicle thefts, but also to ensure swift law enforcement action when these incidents occur,” said Acting Chief of Police Pamela A. Smith. “These tracking devices allow our officers and detectives to be better positioned to quickly locate stolen vehicles, recover property, and gather vital evidence for investigations.”
Thiefs will no doubt adapt to this, and could scan cars for AirTags after stealing a car. If the AirTag pinging leaves digital artifacts, it could still lead police to criminals.
READ NEXT:
