New York City to hand out 500 free Apple AirTags to deter car thefts

The government of New York City plans to distribute free Apple AirTags as an attempt to deter car thefts, Mayor Eric Adams said Sunday.

Mayor Adams said that a local nonprofit donated 500 AirTags which will be handed out to car owners in the city. Apple AirTags are GPS tracking devices that can be attached to personal belongings to keep track of them. 

"The aggravated number of grand larceny autos continues to drive up crime in our city," Adams explained at a presser. "This simple device, this simple AirTag, hidden in a car location that a person is not aware, of is an excellent tracking device,"

"It’s easy to monitor. You can see in real-time where the vehicle is located," the mayor added.

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Adams explained that the 500 AirTags will be handed out by cops – including in the crime-ridden 43th Precinct in the Bronx.

"We’re going to be handing them out in this precinct, which is really spiking in grand larceny autos," Adams said at the presser, which was held in the Castle Hill neighborhood.