According to the latest FBI Crime in the United States Report, 162,547 bicycles were reported stolen in 2016. While this number is shocking, I’m sure it only represents a fraction of bicycles actually stolen, since many bike thefts go unreported. Fortunately for cyclists, devices like the Apple AirTag and the Android Tag can assist cyclists and law enforcement in recovering stolen bikes quickly.
Setting up my Apple AirTag was fast and easy.
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND
- I pulled the tab to activate the battery. The AirTag played a sound to indicate activation.
- My phone detected the AirTag and I simply tapped connect on the phone screen.
- I gave my AirTag a custom name, chose an emoji and registered the AirTag with my Apple ID.
- Just to make sure everything was working, I checked the FindMy app to ensure the app showed the location of my AirTag. More details on setting up your AirTag can be found at this link: AirTag – Apple Support
- The final step was to place my AirTag on my bike where a thief would not quickly locate and disable or discard my tracker.
Now if my bicycle ever goes missing, I can track its latest location on a map in the app. For less than $30 for an Apple AirTag or an Android Tag, it is a good investment for recovering your bike if it is stolen. Will it really work? Checkout Catching a Bike Thief with AirTags on YouTube.
Ken Whittaker