Police warn of smart tracking devices being used without consent

Police are warning residents to be aware of the nefarious use of smart tracking devices like AirTags after the technology was found on a number of vehicles and personal property without the owner’s knowledge.

Bluetooth tracking devices are commonly used to help locate personal items such as keys, wallets, luggage, and other valuables.

Once paired with a mobile device, these trackers can provide location updates and assist owners in recovering misplaced property or to keep track of young children.

Those are the practical benefits.

But Waterloo regional police investigators have seen an increase in reports of tracking devices being placed on vehicles and personal belongings without the owner’s knowledge or consent to monitor an individual’s movements and daily activities without their knowledge.

By tracking where a vehicle is parked, when someone leaves for work, or when a residence is vacant, offenders may identify opportunities to commit crimes such as vehicle theft, theft from vehicles, break and enters, and other criminal offences.

Trackers can be concealed in a variety of locations on or inside a vehicle, including underneath the vehicle, behind licence plates, within trailer hitch assemblies, inside wheel wells, or among personal belongings or other items stored in or around the vehicle.

Investigators understand that discovering an unfamiliar tracking device can be unsettling and police encourage residents to treat any unknown tracker seriously and report it to police so the circumstance can be investigated.

Police are advising everyone to periodically inspect their vehicles and personal belongings for unfamiliar devices and to pay attention to smartphone alerts that may indicate an unknown tracking device is moving with them.

If you locate a smart tracking device:

• Contact police as soon as possible.
• Avoid handling, removing, or disabling the device if possible.
• Note when and where the device was discovered.
• Be prepared to provide investigators with information that may assist in determining why the device was placed there.

Waterloo Regional Police continue to investigate reports involving unauthorized tracking devices and encourage anyone who discovers an unfamiliar tracker to contact police at 519-570-9777.