Texas Man Uses A $30 Apple AirTag To Track Down The Thief Who Stole His Chevy Truck

Texas man uses a $30 Apple AirTag to track down the thief who stole his Chevy truck before 'fatally shooting him in the head in a shopping center parking lot' 20 miles away

A man suspected of stealing a truck from a San Antonio home was shot and killed after the truck's owners tracked it down using an Apple Airtag, according to police.
On March 29 at approximately 1 p.m., the San Antonio Police Department received a report of a vehicle theft from a residence located on Braesview in the northern part of the city. Subsequently, the owners utilized an Apple Airtag that was present in the stolen truck to locate it.

The owner, whose name was not released, along with two family members, tracked the truck using the gadget to the parking lot of a shopping center where they approached a man inside the truck which allegedly led to a confrontation, police said. 

According to a report by KSAT, the Bexar County Medical Examiner has determined that 44-year-old Andrew John Herrera died as a result of a gunshot wound to the head, and his death is being classified as a homicide. Authorities are currently investigating the shooting and considering whether the person responsible for firing the gun will face charges. 

The incident has occurred amidst growing concerns about the potential misuse of Apple's AirTag tracking device, which has been reportedly used for harmful purposes such as stalking individuals.

The owner, along with two family members, tracked the truck using the gadget to the parking lot of a shopping center where they approached a man inside the truck
During a press conference, Officer Nick Soliz stated that the individual who confronted Herrera inside the truck reported seeing a weapon, and subsequently fired their own gun into the truck. Soliz urged the public to refrain from taking matters into their own hands and instead wait for law enforcement officials to respond in such situations.

'If you are to get your vehicle stolen, please do not take matters into your own hands like this,' Soliz said. 'It's never safe as you can see by this incident.

Upon arriving at the location on Southeast Military Drive, police discovered bullet casings and two vehicles with damaged windows. It remains unclear if a weapon was recovered from Herrera's possession, and investigations are still ongoing. It is important to note that carrying firearms is legal in Texas, and individuals are permitted to use lethal force to defend themselves against imminent threats.

AirTags were introduced in April 2021 as a convenient way for users to keep tabs on their personal belongings such as bags, wallets, and keys. By attaching an AirTag to their possessions, users can locate them using the Find My app if they are misplaced. These devices, including Tile Trackers, typically retail for between $30 and $50.

AirTags function by detecting nearby iPhones and transmitting a signal to the owner's phone, indicating the location of the device. They have been instrumental in helping users locate missing items, including a UK woman who recently used one to recover her stolen car. Zoë Pettit and her friends utilized the AirTag app to track down her stolen Ford Fiesta in February, eventually enlisting the help of law enforcement to retrieve the vehicle from the thief.

In a separate incident, a woman in California was able to locate her lost dog that had been swept away in a flood by utilizing an AirTag that was attached to the dog's collar.

However, the discreet and portable nature of AirTags has raised concerns about their potential misuse by stalkers who may use them to surreptitiously track individuals.