Renton, Washington – The Renton Police Department has issued a cautionary statement regarding the misuse of Apple AirTags by stalkers to track their victims. In two recent incidents, these small tracking devices were surreptitiously placed in the victims’ cars, enabling the stalkers to monitor their movements.
Local residents expressed concern over the alarming trend of individuals exploiting technology to violate others’ privacy. Ariana Basilias, a resident, shared her apprehension, stating, “Every time I hear of ‘oh there’s a new way of putting people at risk, it’s something to be aware of.'”
According to Renton police, the two recent cases involved a domestic violence situation and an employer tracking a former employee. In both instances, an AirTag was discreetly placed in the victims’ vehicles, allowing the perpetrators to monitor their whereabouts.
Meeghan Black, the communications manager for the Renton Police Department, explained the functionality of AirTags, stating, “If you are traveling with them and the owner isn’t there, you’re going to get an alert on your phone, and it’s going to say that an AirTag or someone is moving with you.”
Residents expressed concern over the misuse of a technology designed to help track valuables for nefarious purposes. Alejandro Terrones shared his worries, particularly as a parent, saying, “I’m driving my kid around all the time, and I didn’t even think of that being a possibility, but hearing that, you just think about any time I park my car and leave it, someone can just come up and do that.”
Frustration and heightened awareness were evident among the community, as individuals realized the need to be vigilant about their surroundings. Basilias emphasized the importance of investigating any suspicious notifications, stating, “If a notification that pops up looks funny or is concerning or doesn’t make sense given the context, I think looking into it and not ignoring it.”
The Renton Police Department advised residents to activate location services and Find My iPhone on their devices, as this would trigger an alert if an AirTag is detected moving with them. This precautionary measure aims to empower individuals to identify and address potential instances of misuse of tracking technology.
