Recover Your Stolen Car with Apple AirTag? Not Likely.

It’s Right There…Maybe?

Last month a man’s motorcycle was stolen, of which he had previously hidden an Apple AIrTag on it just in case it should ever be stolen. Through the use of his iPhone, the owner of the motorbike was able to locate it within a general area that included a house, a garage, and a large van all of which could potentially contain the stolen motorbike.

However, upon calling the police and getting them to arrive at the iPhone pinged location, reportedly the police looked around the area for a bit and then came back to the owner saying since they cannot see the motorbike anywhere that there was nothing more they could do about it. In other words, the current interpretation of the Fourth Amendment prevents the police from entering the premises (house, garage, and large van) without what they consider to be probable cause. Only if the motorbike was visible to the public could the police intercede.

Our 4th Amendment Protection

The Encyclopedia Britannica states the full text of the amendment as this:

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

In other words, The Fourth Amendment protects people like you and I against unreasonable searches and seizures by the police. And not only that, but also forbids anyone higher up the judicial ladder from issuing a warrant EXCEPT UPON PROBABLE CAUSE that is directed toward a specific person(s) and place(s).

Lehto’s Law

The above story was the subject of a recent Steve Lehto YouTube channel episode where the host goes over the story and explains why this happened the way it did with a focus on whether an AIrTag merits consideration of “Probable Cause” and whether the police officer’s refusal to search the suspect home, garage, and van was valid or not.

Follow along with the host in the video and see what you think of the situation and if an AirTag really does merit the justification of Probable Cause.

For additional articles related to the problems with car theft for owners, here are a few for your consideration:

Booby Trapped Truck Makes the News and Raises Questions

Dealer Sold Man Stolen Car Warning

There's a Simple Way to Stop a Thief from Stealing Your Car Says This Mechanic

Timothy Boyer is a Torque News automotive reporter based in Cincinnati. Experienced with early car restorations, he regularly restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites for daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.

COMING UP NEXT: Self-Driving Car Facts for Shoppers Curious About What is True and What Is Not

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