When a couple in London found their $57,000 Jaguar E-Pace stolen, they turned to the police for help. Despite having an AirTag in the vehicle that enabled them to track its location, the Metropolitan Police provided only a vague response, suggesting they might send a patrol car but indicating they would follow up if anything was found. Frustrated by the lack of assistance, Mia Forbes Pirie and her husband, Mark Simpson, decided to retrieve their vehicle themselves.
The couple was fortunate that the car was only nine minutes away. Concerned that the car might be discarded without a trace, Forbes Pirie expressed her urgency and informed the police of their plan to head to the car’s location. However, the police suggested they call back if they needed help at the scene.
Feeling a mix of excitement and adventure, the couple set out to find their car, believing that car thieves would prioritize escaping rather than causing harm. Upon arrival in Chiswick, they located the stolen vehicle parked without any sign of the thieves. Despite the thieves having bypassed the car’s built-in immobilizer, the couple had installed an additional immobilizer, which ultimately foiled the thieves’ plans.
To reclaim their vehicle, Forbes Pirie and Simpson had to prove ownership to the car company, as they could not simply start it due to the immobilizer. Reflecting on their experience, Forbes Pirie noted her expectation that the police would act more quickly given the available location but acknowledged the strain on law enforcement resources. As a result of incidents like this, many car owners now equip their vehicles with AirTags to aid in tracking.
However, experts, including Apple and various law enforcement agencies, recommend caution, citing potential safety concerns, with the exception of London’s Metropolitan Police.
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