A Memphis man says a routine errand turned into a high-tech scavenger hunt after his backpack was stolen from his vehicle in Frayser on Feb. 18. According to police, the bag did not just hold his everyday belongings. Inside was a handgun, and the owner says an Apple AirTag tucked in the pack helped him track where it went after the theft. Officers later released surveillance photos and asked for the public's help, but no arrests have been announced.
What police say and where the trail led
As reported by WREG, the victim first realized something was wrong when he received a notification that his bank card had been used at 3427 N Watkins, the Lovely Food Market. The card had been in the stolen backpack, which was taken from his vehicle on the 3600 block of Watkins Street.
Police said the backpack contained a black Taurus .38 handgun, a wallet and a set of car keys. The victim used the AirTag that had been placed in the bag to follow its movement after the theft. Investigators later released surveillance images tied to the case and asked anyone with information to contact CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH.
How the tracking worked
AirTags are small Bluetooth trackers that can be slipped into bags or attached to items like key rings. When an AirTag is out of direct Bluetooth range, Apple’s Find My network can still provide an approximate location by pinging nearby Apple devices.
Apple says it has built in unwanted-tracking alerts and other privacy tools, and that law enforcement can request certain information from the company when it relates to investigations. For step-by-step information on those alerts and how to spot or disable an unknown AirTag, Apple directs users to its support resources.
Trackers have helped recover property before
This is not the first time a tiny tracker has played a big role in a theft investigation. In a 2022 case in Florida, an AirTag helped guide investigators to an airline worker accused of stealing items from passengers’ luggage, according to The Guardian.
And in 2024, the same basic approach surfaced in the Bay Area, where a victim’s AirTag helped Pleasanton police link a string of car break-ins to a suspect, a story covered on Hoodline in Pleasanton police nab suspect.
Safety first: what officials are asking
Memphis police say they have not made an arrest in the Frayser case and released surveillance photos in hopes that someone can identify the person shown, WREG reports. Investigators are urging anyone who recognizes the individual or who has information about the theft to call CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH instead of trying to intervene on their own.
Officials and safety resources emphasize that people should not attempt to personally recover stolen items. They advise removing valuables from vehicles whenever possible, locking doors, and reporting suspicious activity to police. Apple’s support pages also walk users through how unwanted-tracking alerts work and how to disable an AirTag if one is found. Apple Support
