Frustrated by police inaction, a London couple took matters into their own hands and recovered their stolen $57,000 Jaguar E-Pace using an Apple AirTag they had hidden inside the vehicle. The high-tech DIY recovery unfolded after Mia Forbes Pirie and her husband Mark Simpson found their car missing from their home in Hammersmith.
Despite informing the Metropolitan Police of the AirTag’s precise location data, the couple received a vague response and minimal engagement. “I wanted to act quite quickly,” Forbes Pirie told BBC News, explaining their concern that thieves might discard the AirTag, leaving them with no way to trace the vehicle.
Receiving little help, the couple decided to follow the AirTag themselves. They informed the police of their plans but were only told to call back if they needed assistance at the scene. The car was eventually found parked in Chiswick, seemingly abandoned. Thieves had managed to bypass the vehicle’s factory-installed immobilizer but were stopped by an aftermarket security device.
Ironically, Forbes Pirie and Simpson couldn’t immediately drive the car away, as the added immobilizer required verification of ownership. They had to contact the manufacturer and provide documentation before the car was unlocked and released to them.
While this recovery ended safely, authorities and Apple continue to caution against citizens pursuing stolen property themselves, citing personal safety risks. Nonetheless, the incident underscores both the potential and controversy of using AirTags for crime prevention.
Apple AirTags have been in the spotlight recently for their dual-edged utility. Law enforcement agencies have reported that criminals are increasingly using the trackers to stalk victims or locate vehicles for theft. Instances have emerged where suspects secretly place AirTags in hidden compartments of vehicles, then later steal the car using electronic tools to bypass ignition systems.
Forbes Pirie acknowledged the risks involved, saying she didn’t believe the thieves would confront them but was concerned they’d try to flee. “I thought the police would act quicker considering they had a location for it, but I know they also [are] very stretched.”
