Law enforcement apprehended a man on charges related to tampering with a government record and theft of two vehicles in Harris County, after an Apple AirTag helped locate the stolen cars. Ignacio Ulisis Castande, 36, was accused of taking apart and using stolen vehicles for parts since 2019, according to Harris County Constable Precinct 1 spokesman Jeff McShan, as reported by KTRK TV.
Both stolen vehicles, a Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon, were discovered at a shop on Airline Drive near Mitchell Road after an AirTag pinged inside one of them, McShan revealed. Upon obtaining a search warrant for the premises, authorities found that both vehicles had been destroyed and dismantled.
In relation to the stolen cars in Houston Heights, McShan mentioned that law enforcement had acquired surveillance footage showing a black wrecker towing the vehicles. A deputy confirmed that the wrecker belonged to Castande. Eventually, the deputy located Castande at an apartment complex, where the wrecker was parked. Castande was arrested without any issues.
Following the investigation, law enforcement discovered that numerous people in other Harris County neighborhoods were affected by the theft of multiple cars in 2019. McShan noted that since the investigation, they have received numerous phone calls from individuals who have either witnessed their cars being taken by a black wrecker truck or possess video evidence of such incidents.
The wrecker truck in question has been confiscated by authorities subsequent to Castande’s arrest.
Law enforcement advises the use of tracking devices, like AirTags, in vehicles to assist in recovering stolen items. However, while AirTags are primarily intended for personal belongings, there have been instances of individuals employing them for tracking or stalking purposes. A Houston man was recently arrested when a woman discovered an AirTag in her vehicle.
Apple has explicitly urged users not to exploit AirTags for tracking other people. – The Houston Chronicle/Tribune News Service
