Owners of Apple’s AirTags, small tracking devices with advanced technology, have found various creative uses for them. These gadgets can help in finding lost items like wallets, be placed in a car’s glove compartment for easy location in a large parking lot, or be attached to a pet’s collar.
Daniel Scott, a frequent traveler, discreetly placed one of these £30 AirTags in his luggage before flying back to Los Angeles from Salt Lake City in August. To his surprise, upon landing at LAX, he encountered a remarkable situation due to a mishap by airport staff.
Despite expecting to quickly retrieve his luggage and head home, a mix-up led passengers from his flight to the wrong baggage carousel. Daniel later shared with NBC Los Angeles that after a delay and relocation to another carousel, his suitcase was missing.
Using the ‘Find My’ app on his phone, Daniel tracked his luggage’s movements outside the terminal, heading towards a taxi rank. He hurried to the location and managed to follow the signal to a deserted building half a mile away from the airport.
Meanwhile, Daniel’s partner contacted the authorities about the theft. Daniel continued monitoring the AirTag’s location outside the building until the police arrived.
When the police arrived, they illuminated the building with their flashlights and demanded the culprits surrender. To Daniel’s shock, he identified one of the thieves wearing his clothes inside the building.
Several individuals were arrested, and after the area was secured, Daniel was allowed inside to search for his belongings. Though he found his luggage, it had been damaged, with his clothes scattered across different rooms in the building.
Despite the chaotic experience, Daniel expressed relief at recovering most of his possessions. He advised others to wait for law enforcement rather than confronting criminals directly if faced with a similar situation in the future.