Alleged serial Florida luggage thief arrested thanks to Apple Airtag

Florida authorities have arrested a suspected serial luggage thief many thanks to an Apple AirTag — a product that enables Apple shoppers to preserve observe of their personalized goods.

The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Business office (OCSO) arrested Giovanni De Luca, 19, right after the agency's Airport Security Unit "became mindful of suspicious action" involving several products stolen from the Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport.

"This arrest is an example of excellent teamwork by our Airport Stability Unit, our Investigators, and the Airport to locate the particular person accountable for these thefts and make sure he is held responsible," Sheriff Eric Aden explained in a Facebook write-up past week.

Two tourists reported their luggage stolen in July and August right after their baggage hardly ever arrived at their places. The travelers' baggage contained a merged complete of practically $17,000 value of goods and jewelry, in accordance to OCSO.

NC Police Capture REPEAT THEFT SUSPECT Applying APPLE AIRTAG

The traveler who reported her bag stolen in July explained to authorities that her Apple AirTag pinged at a area in Mary Esther, Florida.

Investigators cross-referenced staff who lived in that place and designed "consensual make contact with" with De Luca at his residence, exactly where they recovered the things claimed missing in August. 

INDIANA Female ALLEGEDLY TRACKS BOYFRIEND WITH AIRTAGS, KILLS HIM Just after Spotting HIM WITH Another Female

The suspect admitted to heading as a result of the other traveler's bag and taking away her Apple AirTag. Her baggage have not been recovered, according to the sheriff's place of work.

De Luca, an airline subcontractor, is now facing two counts of grand theft.

The quarter-sized Apple system makes it possible for users to continue to keep monitor of their personal items by way of Bluetooth technology. (Melina Mara/The Washington Submit through Getty Pictures)

While Apple AirTags can direct law enforcement to suspected criminals, they have also been abused by criminals to keep track of and stalk victims in a development dubbed "AirTag stalking," according to numerous community police departments. The equipment do have specific protection characteristics intended to maintain users safe and sound, these types of as the capacity to explain to when an AirTag has been divided from its proprietor. 

Click Right here TO GET THE G3 Box News App

Unveiled in April 2021, the AirTag is a quarter-sized system that Apple describes on its web-site as "a tremendous-uncomplicated way to maintain keep track of of your things." 

Users can connect the $29 AirTag to a mobile phone, a set of keys, or even fall just one in a purse to retain monitor of their products by Apple's "Find My" application, which will allow consumers, as nicely as their close friends and household users, to observe Apple devices.