Washington D.C. using AirTags to crack down on car thefts

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced a new program that will provide free tracking tags for residents in certain neighborhoods to put on their cars, making them easier to locate if they get stolen.

The tracking tags — which are literally Apple AirTags — will be distributed to residents living in neighborhoods with high numbers of vehicle theft. They’ll be offered at three different events over the coming months. Proof of residency and an address that corresponds with an eligible police service area will be required to receive a tag.

This initiative in Washington, D.C., follows a similar program in New York City. Mayor Eric Adam described using AirTags as a 21st-century policing initiative to track stolen cars.