Innovative Tracking Leads to Arrests in Southern California
A Southern California woman, frustrated by a series of mail thefts from her post office box, devised an innovative plan to catch the thief by sending an Apple AirTag to herself. This clever strategy led to the arrest of two suspects, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office reported.
After several packages went missing from her mailbox at the Los Alamos Post Office, the woman decided to place an Apple AirTag, a popular $29 tracking device released by Apple in 2021, in her next package. The AirTag, typically used to keep track of personal belongings like keys, wallets, and luggage, was key to solving the case.
On Monday morning, the woman reported to sheriff’s deputies that her mail, including the package containing the AirTag, had been stolen again.
Tracking down the suspects
Using the AirTag’s location data, law enforcement tracked the package to a residential block in Santa Maria, approximately 16 miles from the post office. There, deputies arrested two suspects: a 27-year-old woman from Santa Maria and a 37-year-old man from Riverside. Inside their vehicle, authorities found the stolen package along with additional mail believed to belong to more than a dozen other victims.
Criminal charges and commendation
Both suspects were taken into custody. They face multiple charges, including possession of checks with intent to commit fraud, conspiracy, and identity and credit card theft. The 37-year-old suspect also faces a burglary charge and several theft warrants from Riverside County.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office praised the victim for her proactive approach and for contacting law enforcement, enabling them to apprehend the suspects safely. “The mail theft victim did the right thing by contacting us rather than attempting to confront the suspects on her own,” a spokesperson said.
This incident highlights the innovative use of technology in everyday crime prevention and the importance of involving law enforcement in such situations