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Topic: Air Tag Tragedy [woman confronted car thieves alone using Air Tag location] (Read 413 times) previous topic - next topic
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Air Tag Tragedy [woman confronted car thieves alone using Air Tag location]
[Modified topic title to be more clear this wasn't an Air Tag problem - Michelle]


Just heard about this tragedy and thought I would share as I know some forum members have Apple Air Tags:

4 suspected in killing of Bakersfield woman trying to recover stolen car...
Greg & Victoria
2017 Mid-Bath  “Nocona” towing a manual 2015 Forester
Previously a 1985 TK
SKP #61264
Re: Air Tag Tragedy
Reply #1 –
“used the AirTag to track down her stolen vehicle without notifying police, confronted the suspects and was shot.“

Yes it’s a tragedy that the 61 year old woman was killed, though it’s a bit of Darwin in action by attempting the recovery herself rather than involve the police.
Dave

2017 TK
Re: Air Tag Tragedy
Reply #2 –
AirTag isn’t to blame. Lack of common sense is. How unfortunate.
Joe B.
2008 26ft  grey/white Rear Bath
Family of 5 hitting the open road as much as we can.
Re: Air Tag Tragedy
Reply #3 –
Agreed. AirTags are useful, but confronting thieves is extremely risky. Call the police and let them do their jobs.
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: Air Tag Tragedy
Reply #4 –
AirTags don't kill people. People kill people.
How soon before AirTags sold in California will have to have a warning label  like
"RECOVERING STOLEN ITEMS VIA AIRTAGS MAY BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH"
Joel & Terry Wiley
dog Zeke
2013  31 IB   Orwan   / 2011 CRV Tow'd LWEROVE
Re: Air Tag Tragedy
Reply #5 –
I’m not suggesting what the woman did was very smart let alone safe by going it alone but it’s questionable whether or not the Bakersfield police would have responded if the woman had called them first.

California Penal Code Section 487(d)(1) Grand Theft Auto offenders may be charged with either a misdemeanor (maximum of 1 year in jail) or a felony (maximum of 3 years in jail).  If the vehicle is valued above $65,000, an additional 1 year MAY be added or 3 years if the vehicle value is above $200,000.  Nowhere in the story did it indicate that the vehicle was high end.

In all likelihood the police would not have expended the time or effort to chase down the perpetrators for a low level crime and would have filed a report and told the woman to make a claim with her insurance company.

This may be a cynical response to this tragic story but it makes me sick what happened to this woman and the pain her family and friends are facing now.  The old adage of crime doesn’t pay no longer applies to todays world.

- John

Fulltimer with a 2021 MId-Bath “Babe”, 1996 Cherokee “Scout” and “Bandit” the wonder dog 🐶
Re: Air Tag Tragedy
Reply #6 –
I have no comment😬
Sam
Re: Air Tag Tragedy
Reply #7 –
And I can ad my comment that my motorhome will have a working ignition immobilizer very soon.   I remember that someone here would 'whack' the inertia switch hard to activate it, shutting off the fuel pump. Then (remember) to reset it to resume driving. Brute force, but does work. (tough on the hand maybe.)  RonB
RonB (Bostick) living in San Diego
Original owner of "Bluebelle" a '99 TKB
Re: Air Tag Tragedy
Reply #8 –
Quote from: joel wiley  - 
AirTags don't kill people. People kill people.

Agreed. I feel the same way about firearms but since that is a forbidden topic on this forum, I’ll leave it at that! 🫢
Greg & Victoria
2017 Mid-Bath  “Nocona” towing a manual 2015 Forester
Previously a 1985 TK
SKP #61264
Re: Air Tag Tragedy
Reply #9 –
As is my habit I'm late to the topic ......

I feel for the lady in question.   Here in Oregon auto thief is mostly a none issue for the police.   Unless the person sitting in the car admits they stole it the police can do nothing to arrest them.   That being the case a good friend of mine had her older pickup stolen from her front yard.   She knew the local police would not look for it.   She had her friend post on Facebook looking for the truck.  (I don't do Facebook)   Some friend saw the truck at a 7/11.   They followed it to a large homeless camp.   She, my friend, is over 6 feet tall.   She got a baseball bat and was determined to get her truck back.   On her way, she saw a policeperson and asked for help.   They told her there was nothing they could do since it was private property and they were not allowed to go down there.   She said she was going.   The cop asked her to wait for backup.   They, she and two cops, went into the camp.  She saw her truck.   The thief was unloading it.   The cops did a warrant check.  He had been in jail for an auto thief and was released.  He was wanted for drug offenses and failed to appear also.  

She got her truck back.  The point I think is we are kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place.   There is not enough money to ask the police to jail ALL the crimes we ask them to take care of.   So we just complain.    Between you and me there are two jobs I never want to do -- police and grade/high school teacher.

glen
personal fine art photo stuff
TF Mack | Flickr
It's all good .......
2014 Twin King
Re: Air Tag Tragedy [woman confronted car thieves alone using Air Tag location]
Reply #10 –
[Topic exhausted and locked.  Article title was misleading and not an Air Tag issue - Michelle]