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Show HN: Undetectag, track stolen items with AirTag

(undetectag.com)
114 points pompidoo | 4 comments | 15 May 25 15:46 UTC | HN request time: 0.623s | source

I developed a device that turns an Airtag on and off at specific intervals. Current Airtags are detectable right away and cannot be used to track stolen property. That device allows you to hide an Airtag in your car, for example, and someone that steals your car will not be able to use some app to detect it. The Airtag will also not warn the thief of its presence. After some hours, the Airtag turns on again and you can find out its location. It’s not foolproof, as the timing has to be right, but still useful.

What do you think?

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hollow-moe[dead post] ◴[15 May 25 17:36 UTC] No.43997364[source]▶
[flagged]
1. Ajedi32 ◴[15 May 25 17:54 UTC] No.43997531[source]▶
> You shouldn't go get back your belongings from a thief anyways.

And the police shouldn't either? Seems like knowing the location of your stolen property would help with getting it back in most cases.

replies(1): >>43997575 #
2. 1propionyl ◴[15 May 25 17:59 UTC] No.43997575[source]▶
In practice it does not. If you have had something with FindMy tracking stolen you may know what apartment block it's in, but not what unit.

Police won't or can't do anything if it could be in multiple units or would require any kind of warrant for the building as well as the specific unit you think it's in.

If you're "lucky" some might chaperone you knocking yourself, which itself is not something most want to entertain.

On account of police policy, AirTags are effectively useless for actually getting anything stolen back. You'll get more use out of them in filing your insurance claim if the theft of the item is covered under for example your homeowner's insurance policy.

replies(2): >>43997596 #>>43997848 #
3. Ajedi32 ◴[15 May 25 18:01 UTC] No.43997596[source]▶
That's only a problem if the stolen property is in an apartment and not a house or driveway. And even in the apartment case it could probably be used in combination with other evidence (if available) to obtain a warrant, though you're correct that in practice police don't often have the bandwidth to investigate property crimes to that degree.
4. ops ◴[15 May 25 18:28 UTC] No.43997848[source]▶
This depends on where you are. In Florida, the police will absolutely go get your stolen property if you give them an AirTag location.