NYPD Doles Out 500 Free AirTags to Discourage Carjackers
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and the NYPD this week began handing out Apple AirTags to citizens in hopes of preventing carjackings.
Five hundred Apple Bluetooth trackers are up for grabs in the city's 43rd precinct, where cases of grand larceny auto (GLA) have been on the rise. The aim is to deter would-be thieves from snatching vehicles that may be trackable. Or, if that fails, make it easier for victims and law enforcement to locate stolen cars.
In the first four months of this year, the NYPD recorded more than 200 GLAs—many of which targeted Kia, Honda, and Hyundai brands. Adams blamed the recent increase on a 2022 viral TikTok challenge that details how to use a USB cable and screwdriver to hijack vulnerable Kia or Hyundai models (for which an anti-theft software update has since been rolled out).
The city's solution: free AirTags. Donated by the nonprofit Association for Better New York (ABNY), trackers are being doled out to locals who can stash it in a vehicle's glove compartment, center console, spare tire well, or anywhere out of view.
It's unclear how officials will distribute the devices—whether it's a first-come, first-served situation, or if there's some sort of sign-up sheet. At a recent press conference(Opens in a new window) announcing the new campaign, Adams tossed an AirTag to one audience member (and 2020 Kia owner) who simply asked if they could get one.
"GLA is driving our crime, Kia and Hyundai are driving the GLAs," the mayor said. "So you are one less GLA we're worrying about."
Adams, a big proponent of using technology to "fight crime, protect people, [and] save property," called Apple's tracker "a really amazing piece of ingenuity."
The coin-sized device leverages Apple's network of devices to
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