Thieves Exploit AirTag Trackers to Steal Luxury Car
Small electronic tracking devices, like Apple’s AirTags, are increasingly being used in criminal activities, including theft. One notable case involved the theft of a luxury vehicle, where criminals utilized an AirTag to track the car’s location.
The Lexus LX, the model targeted by thieves.
Released in 2021, AirTags were designed to help users locate their belongings. About the size of a 500-yen coin, they use Bluetooth to transmit location data. Users can track their AirTag’s location via a smartphone app. However, AirTag signals can be detected by nearby iPhones, raising privacy concerns.
The Crime
A 54-year-old company executive from Fukuoka, Japan, purchased a used Lexus LX online. He met the seller, paid approximately 5.2 million yen ($35,000), and took the car home. Two weeks later, he received a call from the repair shop where his car was being serviced, informing him that the vehicle had been stolen. The car was taken from a sheet metal factory.
The thieves had attached an AirTag to the car before it was sold. They tracked its location and waited for an opportunity before using a spare key to steal it. Following the theft, police arrested three individuals, including a 33-year-old former yakuza member.
Stalking and Misuse Concerns
The misuse of location tracking devices is not new. In 2023, the National Police Agency in Japan reported 486 consultations related to stalking cases involving the malicious use of location information devices, a 20% increase from the previous year. While no specific nationwide statistics exist on AirTags, their misuse has been confirmed. In June 2023, Fukuoka police arrested a man in his 50s for allegedly violating anti-stalking laws by using an AirTag to track and stalk a former partner.
Apple’s Response and Countermeasures
Apple has implemented measures to help users detect unknown AirTags. In December 2021, the company released an app that can issue warnings on smartphones if an unknown AirTag is nearby. However, according to Akiko Takahashi, an internet technology journalist and visiting Seikei University professor, these warnings may be issued after several hours. Takahashi suggests that manufacturers should prioritize safety due to the number of misuse instances.
An official from Apple Japan Inc. stated that AirTag was designed to locate personal belongings, not to track people or other people’s property, and strongly condemn its malicious use.
This article was written by Hideoki Kozuki and Yuta Torio.
