On Sunday, NYC Mayor Eric Adams announced that he would give out free Apple AirTags to curb car thefts in the city.
The mayor referred to the GPS tracking devices as “really amazing pieces of ingenuity,” and said that 500 of the devices, which a local group gave, will be distributed to New Yorkers, including in the Bronx’s 43rd Precinct of the NYPD.
“The aggravated number of grand larceny autos continues to drive up crime in our city,” Adams said at a press conference.
“This simple device, this simple AirTag, hidden in a car location that a person is not aware, of is an excellent tracking device,” Adams said. “It’s easy to monitor. You can see in real-time where the vehicle is located.”
Later that day, the NYPD issued a video showing how the gadgets could aid officers in locating a stolen car. The video also urged drivers to go out and purchase their own AirTags.
Adams has advised New Yorkers to utilize such gadgets and added that the Association for Better New York has provided 500 of them for police officers to distribute.
“We’re going to be handing them out in this precinct, which is really spiking in grand larceny autos,” Adams said.
According to City Hall, the Community Affairs Bureau of the NYPD’s Crime Prevention Unit is developing a strategy for an equal distribution of the devices, concentrating on the precincts with the highest number of grand larceny auto thefts.
The mayor’s office said the city would also be holding a fundraiser to raise money to buy more gadgets similar to AirTags.
The number of car thefts in New York City has been on the rise, jumping to 4,492 through April 23 this year from 3,966 during the same period last year.
According to Adams, the major driving factor is a TikTok challenge that encourages users to steal Hyundai and Kia vehicles using a USB cord.
According to NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell, the AirTags offer a “creative strategic way” to respond.
NYPD data shows that 104 Hyundais and 99 Kias were reported stolen in December, a significant increase from September, when just 7 Kias and 21 Hyundais were stolen.
“It allows our officers to be more strategic while mitigating pursuits, keeping us safe and keeping the community safe,” Chell said of the AirTags. “Hopefully we recover your car undamaged, we take a bad guy off the streets, and you get a car back to conduct your business and it doesn’t impose on your life.”
Adams said, “This is not a centralized tracking system where we are in charge of tracking someone’s car,” but, “Rather, it’ll be up to the car owner to notify the police.”
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