Winnipeg Man Uses AirPods to Outsmart Car Thief in Real Time

7 months ago

Looks like it’s not just Apple’s AirTags that can keep tabs of your car when bad guys are actin’ a fool. So can Apple’s AirPods, according to Winnipeg Police Service.

A man was arrested in downtown Winnipeg after a pair of AirPods left inside a truck helped lead police to a stolen vehicle.
The incident happened on the night of November 11, when a 2020 Ford F-150 was taken after being left running and unattended near Portage Avenue and Roseberry Street. The owner called police and said he could see the location of his AirPods still inside the truck.

Officers tracked the signal to a parking lot on William Avenue, where they found the pickup. A man and woman were spotted beside the vehicle and taken into custody.

A 41-year-old man has been charged with possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 and was released with a court date. A 39-year-old woman was let go without charges.

Only newer AirPods models support true live tracking with Apple’s Precision Finding feature. AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3 include Ultra Wideband chips in their charging cases, letting your iPhone show a directional arrow and distance to help you pinpoint them. The Active Noise Cancellation version of AirPods 4 also supports enhanced Find My tracking.

Older AirPods can still appear in Find My, but they only show their last known location and can play a sound—but they don’t offer precise, live tracking.

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