Tracking stolen items

[lodoc]

Member recently posted about a stolen tractor. Suggestions about attaching a device to locate a stolen item? It appears there are multiple devices available. Some w internal batteries, some wired into 12v. GPS, phone, subscription, Air Tags? Thoughts?

 

[da.bees]

I'm of the opinion insurance companies should reward customers who plant devices to assist recovery, I've known of two cases where people did just that and cops would not or could not get warrants to enter property to investigate. On the other hand a car load of cops showed up at my brother's house claiming a witness saw a reported stolen boat there the day previous.. The boat in question was a new ski boat. After goose stepping about looking in places a toy boat couldn't be concealed they bird dogged an old beat-up 14 ft flat bottom boat I kept there. Although boat had TX #s displayed, they wanted documents proving ownership. After threating and harassing him for over an hour they left saying they might return with a warrant to arrest him on suspension.

 

[Steven Allen]

Any siuch device would have to be well-hidden. Certainly possible on a modern road vehicle, maybe not so much on, say, a vintage tractor.

 

[Wdj]

At one time I was having a problem with my tools migrating to co workers boxes. Not theft, just carelessness. Painted them fluorescent pink. End of problem.

 

[hoghollow]

Monthly fees add up in a hurry. I am not worried where my stuff is 24 7 but if something comes up missing would be nice to be able to track it.

 

[Loosehandle]

I pretty much just have junk, problem solved.

 

[1948CaseVAI]

Air tags are cheap. My daughter puts one in her luggage when she flies and has had my granddaughter (12 years old) put one in her pocket when she and her friends go out exploring around their small town on foot.

 

[Fordy20]

Lojack

 

[Gambles]

The are multiple tracking devices available. The “problem” of using an AirTag is that if the thief has an Apple phone, his (her?) phone will alert him that there is an AirTag in the item that was stolen. This was allegedly setup so women would know that they are being tracked, by a boyfriend, husband or perhaps a stalker. There are other tracking devices if you don’t want to use an AirTag.

 

[Mule Meat]

After threating and harassing him for over an hour they left saying they might return with a warrant to arrest him on suspension.

Arrest him on Suspension??

Would that be considered a felony or misdemeanor in a court of law??

 

[Mule Meat]

Air tags are about useless really. They operate off of Bluetooth. So if you are not within Bluetooth range you will not find your stolen stuff. If you are in a larger city with a lot of friends on your contact list. They can help by turning on their Bluetooth and hope for the best that it will locate your air tag.

 

[a49deere]

At one time I was having a problem with my tools migrating to co workers boxes. Not theft, just carelessness. Painted them fluorescent pink. End of problem.

Not sure someone is going to paint their tractor fluorescent pink to keep it from getting stolen!

 

[joeysmith]

Air tags are about useless really. They operate off of Bluetooth. So if you are not within Bluetooth range you will not find your stolen stuff. If you are in a larger city with a lot of friends on your contact list. They can help by turning on their Bluetooth and hope for the best that it will locate your air tag.

It uses any apple device
Does not have to be someone you know

 

[da.bees]

Arrest him on Suspension??

Would that be considered a felony or misdemeanor in a court of law??

It would never get that far so like everything else they did and said, harassment.

 

[ss55]

Not sure someone is going to paint their tractor fluorescent pink to keep it from getting stolen!

I have seen it before, construction equipment painted pink.

 

[1948CaseVAI]

Air tags are about useless really. They operate off of Bluetooth. So if you are not within Bluetooth range you will not find your stolen stuff. If you are in a larger city with a lot of friends on your contact list. They can help by turning on their Bluetooth and hope for the best that it will locate your air tag.

Most folks just use the name air tag to mean the internet tags like the cards that allow laptops to connect directly are just known as air cards. Apple tags are generally bluetooth but technically those are air tags. My last job prior to retirement supplied me with an air card so I could join the wan through remote desktop from airports securely.