(Credit: Melina Mara/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
The city of Washington D.C. is planning to distribute free Apple AirTags to residents in some neighborhoods in the city as a way to make it easier for officers to track down stolen vehicles.
“Last week, we introduced legislation to address recent crime trends; this week, we are equipping residents with technology that will allow MPD to address these crimes, recover vehicles, and hold people accountable,” D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said in a statement. “We have had success with similar programs where we make it easier for the community and MPD to work together – from our Private Security Camera Incentive Program to the wheel lock distribution program – and we will continue to use all the tools we have, and add new tools, to keep our city safe.”
At launch, the AirTags will be available to residents in specific areas of the city that have recently seen the largest increase in vehicle thefts.
To obtain the tags, residents will have to attend one of three scheduled distribution events next week where officers will install the device on the resident’s cars and help them set up the tracking tag on their mobile devices.
“Our goal is not just to prevent carjackings and motor vehicle thefts, but also to ensure swift law enforcement action when these incidents occur,” said Acting Chief of Police Pamela A. Smith. “These tracking devices allow our officers and detectives to be better positioned to quickly locate stolen vehicles, recover property, and gather vital evidence for investigations.”
The program is currently available for residents who live in Police Service Areas 106, 501, 502, 603, 605, and 606. Check where you live on the MPD’s website.
The AirTag program isn’t the MPD’s first program designed to protect D.C. drivers. The MPD recently expanded its wheel-lock distribution program in the city, and it partnered with Hyundai to add anti-theft software to 1,100 vehicles in the area this summer.