How One Los Angeles Homeowner Used AirTag to Help Recover Stolen Items
Frustrated Homeowner Tracks Thieves Using AirTag but Faces Police Obstacles
LOS ANGELES – A resident in the Larchmont area recently endured a second burglary this year, with three masked suspects caught on surveillance footage breaking into his home. The incident occurred while the homeowner was attending a holiday party.
The homeowner, who chose to remain anonymous, provided the surveillance video to FOX 11, which depicts the suspects climbing over a wall and shattering a glass door before ransacking the residence on Saturday evening.
"We noticed that the French door to the backyard is broken and we realized…it happened again. It was just a huge shock to us," he recounted. "I’m just tired of it — twice was enough – once was enough!"
This break-in marks the second time this year that he has fallen victim to theft. In January, a more sophisticated group of burglars jammed his Wi-Fi system and made off with nearly all his valuables. On this occasion, although the suspects took fewer items, they left behind an unexpected clue.
"I realized that the contents of my briefcase – the laptop and iPad – were on the bed," he said, recalling the moment he remembered the AirTag he had placed in his luggage. "I went to my phone and I tried to find it, and it was still on, and two blocks away from here."
After filing a police report, the homeowner reached out to the Los Angeles Police Department for assistance in retrieving his stolen belongings. However, he found himself faced with limitations. Police informed him that the AirTag’s location within an apartment complex restricted their ability to act.
"The officer told me that we can’t really go in and look for it because it’s an apartment building," he explained. "It had to be on the open road or moving, or it needs to be in a single-family home for them to investigate."
According to law enforcement, while Apple AirTags can indicate a general location, they often lack the specificity needed to pinpoint individual apartment units. Officers cannot search multiple apartments without infringing on the rights of other residents, making it difficult to pursue suspects in complex settings.
Since the burglary, the homeowner has continued to track the AirTag, observing its movement across Los Angeles. "It’s kind of very frustrating," he shared. "I don’t really care too much about getting the things back, but I want these people to get caught."
His concerns extend beyond his personal experience, highlighting a growing community issue surrounding repeated break-ins. "If we can at least increase the catch rate or the arrest rate, then there may be some deterrent effect for thieves," he said. "Now it’s out of control in a way, because there’s no consequences — they just come and go."
