
[Lauren Taylor]
COLORADO POLICE ARE TURNING TO A PIECE OF CONSUMER TECHNOLOGY TO TRACK DOWN STOLEN CARS AND DETER POTENTIAL THIEVES.
THE ARVADA POLICE DEPARTMENT, LOCATED LESS THAN 30 MINUTES FROM DENVER, IS GIVING AWAY CAR TRACKERS TO LOCAL RESIDENTS AS PART OF AN EFFORT TO REDUCE THE DAILY NUMBER OF STOLEN VEHICLES.
THE APPLE AIRTAGS AND TILE DEVICES COME WITH A CLEAR WARNING: THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A GPS TRACKER.
DATA SHOWS COLORADO RANKS AMONG THE TOP 10 STATES FOR MOTOR VEHICLE THEFTS, WITH NEARLY 34,000 VEHICLES REPORTED STOLEN IN 2023.
WHILE OFFICERS RECOVERED MORE THAN 22,000 STOLEN VEHICLES, THE TRACKERS COULD HELP LAW ENFORCEMENT ACHIEVE A 100% CLEARANCE RATE AND REDUCE THEFTS ACROSS THE STATE
POLICE SAY IF YOUR CAR IS STOLEN, YOU CAN SHARE ITS LOCATION, AND OFFICERS WILL RECOVER IT
OFFICIALS ALSO STRESS OFFICERS WILL NEVER HAVE DIRECT ACCESS TO THE GPS INFORMATION, AND EACH TRACKER COMES WITH NO STRINGS ATTACHED
AIRTAGS RETAIL FOR AROUND $30 EACH AND GAINED POPULARITY IN 2021 FOR TRACKING STOLEN ITEMS—EVERYTHING FROM LUGGAGE TO PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN SIGNS.
HOWEVER, THESE QUARTER-SIZED TRACKERS HAVE ALSO ATTRACTED ATTENTION FOR MAKING STALKING EASIER, PROMPTING APPLE TO RELEASE ADDITIONAL MEASURES TO PREVENT UNWANTED TRACKING.
POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN WASHINGTON D-C AND NEW YORK HAVE ALREADY RELIED ON GPS TRACKERS–LIKE AIRTAGS TO FIND STOLEN CARS.
FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M LAUREN TAYLOR