NYC combats car theft with free Apple AirTags distribution.
New York City will distribute 500 Apple AirTags to help the NYPD recover stolen cars and deter thieves amid rising rates of car thefts, particularly of Kias and Hyundais. The AirTags emit a Bluetooth signal to notify the owner of its location, and the NYPD can track the vehicle with the owner's permission. The city is confronting a rash of car thefts this year, with 4,793 grand larceny autos documented, an increase of nearly 14% from the year before. The 500 AirTags were donated by the Association of a Better New York, and the city will fundraise to purchase more AirTags or similar tracking devices.