The New York Police Department (NYPD) is encouraging New York car owners to install Apple AirTags in their cars in order to reduce car thefts in the city.


In a tweet shared over the weekend, the NYPD said that “the 21st century calls for 21st century policing,” and that the AirTag in the vehicle will help officers recover the vehicle if it is stolen. An accompanying video instructs car owners to obtain and install the AirTag in a location in the vehicle that cannot be easily found.

The video then shows a carjacking where the owner uses the Find My app to track the vehicle, with the tracking information relayed to the police. The officers find the car thanks to the AirTag and are able to recover the car and apprehend the thief.

“Protect your car by simply placing an Apple AirTag in it,” the New York Police Department wrote at the end of the video. The AirTag initiative comes after a TikTok carjacking video went viral causing a spike in thefts across the US. On TikTok, thieves explain how to get into Hyundai and Kia cars with an easily accessible exploit.

In an accompanying press conference Sunday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said the city will provide 500 free “AirTags” to car owners. according to CBS NewsAirTags are available to residents of Castle Hill, Soundview and Parkchester, as these areas have seen a 548 percent increase in stolen Hyundai and Kia vehicles.

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