A Florida family traveling for the holidays got an unwelcome surprise when their luggage was stolen at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina. But thanks to the power of technology, specifically an Apple AirTag tracking device, they were able to locate their stolen belongings and assist police in recovering additional stolen property.
The theft occurred last Friday when Catherine Gavino, her parents, and other family members flew into Charlotte for a Christmas vacation in the Carolinas. After landing at the busy airport, the family was unable to locate one of their suitcases at the baggage claim. Little did the thieves know, the suitcase contained a hidden Apple AirTag which allowed the Gavino family to track the location of their stolen luggage in real-time using Catherine’s iPhone.
Once Catherine pulled up the Find My app on her phone, she saw that the AirTag in her parent’s suitcase was transmitting a signal along Interstate 85 heading west towards Gastonia, NC. Wasting no time, the family gathered their remaining luggage, picked up their rental car, and pursued the AirTag’s signal down the interstate. However, when they reached the general vicinity of Gastonia, the exact location of the AirTag could no longer be pinpointed. Disappointed, the Gavinos called off their search for the night.
But this tech-savvy family was not ready to give up just yet. Early Christmas morning, after dropping some family members back at the airport, Catherine checked the Find My app one last time. The AirTag was transmitting a location from a specific residence in Gastonia. The Gavinos quickly contacted the local police department and met officers at the suspect’s home. Upon investigating, police not only found the family’s stolen suitcase but an additional piece of luggage that had been reported stolen from Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
According to the police report, the suspect was arrested and charged with multiple counts of theft and drug possession. Thanks to the AirTag’s tracking capabilities, officers were able to charge the suspect and return stolen property to two separate victims. For Catherine Gavino, the small Bluetooth tracking device brought a big holiday victory. “I wanted justice,” she told reporters. “Without the AirTag, I wouldn’t have found them.”
This dramatic theft discovery highlights the growing trend of placing Apple AirTags in luggage to combat airport theft. Charlotte Douglas International Airport has seen a spike in baggage thefts in recent months, leaving police frustrated. The small, coin-sized tracking devices allow anyone with an iPhone to follow their valuables in real-time anywhere in the world. While the technology has raised some privacy concerns, many travelers now consider AirTags a necessity when checking luggage.
The easy-to-use trackers have also aided police in recovering stolen vehicles, bikes, and other property. Earlier this year, a man in Georgia used an AirTag to locate his stolen BMW in a matter of hours. However, experts warn that the technology does have limitations. AirTags rely on proximity to Apple devices to transmit tracking data. If a stolen object is taken somewhere without any nearby iPhone users, its signal can be lost.
For the Gavinos, the $29 AirTag proved its value many times over in their Christmas luggage recovery mission. Their suitcase was ransacked by the thieves, with most of the family’s clothing and other contents stolen or damaged. But Catherine has no regrets about the time, effort and rental car gas spent chasing down their rogue luggage. As police continue investigating luggage thefts at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, officials say the public plays an important role. Travelers should take measures to secure their baggage and utilize available technology, like AirTags, to combat rampant airport theft impacting holiday travel.
