Key Takeaways:
- Investigators with the York Regional Police Auto Theft Unit inform residents.
- They have discovered a new method for thieves to track and steal high-end vehicles throughout the York Region.
The United States-based tech giant Apple launched AirTags earlier this year to help users better track their belongings. But it now appears that thieves have figured out how to use the technology to their advantage.
According to a BGR India report, a Canadian syndicate uses Apple AirTags to target and ultimately steal luxury cars. As a result, the York Regional Police in Canada has warned residents to be wary of thieves attempting to steal luxury vehicles using Apple AirTags.
“Officers have examined five occurrences since September 2021 in which criminals have put small tracking devices on high-end vehicles to locate and steal them subsequently. When parked in public venues like malls or parking lots, brand name ‘air tags’ are placed in out-of-sight sections of the target automobiles.
The targeted vehicles are then tracked to the victim’s home, stolen from the driveway. “In a statement, the York Regional Police Auto/Cargo Theft Unit said.
“Thieves commonly utilize screwdrivers to gain access to vehicles through the driver or passenger doors while avoiding setting off alarms. Once inside, an electronic device, similar to what mechanics use to reprogram factory settings, is linked to the onboard diagnostics port beneath the dashboard and instructs the car to accept the key the thieves brought with them.
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The vehicle will start after the new key is programmed, and the thieves will drive it away. “The York Regional Police Department’s Auto/Cargo Theft Unit has been added.
Officials have identified five instances of auto theft in which thieves used Apple AirTags to track vehicles and subsequently take them. When the target vehicles were parked in public venues like malls or parking lots, the tags were put in out-of-sight regions.
The targeted automobiles are then tracked to the victim’s home, stolen from the driveway. Once inside, an electronic device, similar to what mechanics use to reprogram factory settings, is linked to the onboard diagnostics port beneath the dashboard and instructs the car to accept the key the thieves brought with them. The vehicle will start after the new key is programmed, and the thieves will drive it away.
Source ZEE Business
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[…] Police in Canada has issued a warning that ‘AirTags’ are being used to steal luxury vehi… […]
Antonioacouh
Police in York Region say they have discovered a new way in which thieves are using Apple technology to track and eventually steal high-end cars in the area. After the vehicle is located, police said that thieves will use tools like screwdrivers to gain entry through the passenger or driver side door.
Antonioacouh
Vehicle owners have since been advised to park their car in a garage, rather than their driveway, as well as using steering wheel locks to avoid having it stolen If an AirTag is found in a vehicle, owners are advised to alert the police. Despite mainly being reported in Canada, American vehicle owners have also taken note of the new use of AirTags. ‘These AirTags are getting used to track other people and that’s a big problem,’ Dr.