How This Couple Tracked Down and Recovered Their Stolen Car!

Who Stole the Jag?

It all started when Mia Forbes Pirie and her partner Mark Simpson, from Hammersmith, realized that their Jaguar E-Pace was missing. They immediately contacted the police, providing them with the exact location of the vehicle, relayed in real time by an AirTag hidden inside.

Instead of prompt action, they received a vague and discouraging response: a promise to send a patrol car around and assurances that they would be kept informed if anything was found. The couple then decided to take action themselves. I wanted to act quickly because my fear was that we would only find the AirTag, thrown out in the street, and not the car, Mrs. Forbes Pirie explained.

Straight Out of a Movie

The AirTag pinpointed the car in a nearby neighborhood of Chiswick, just nine minutes away from their home. Upon arrival, they found their Jaguar parked and intact, with no sign of the thieves. The thieves had managed to bypass the car’s original immobilizer, but not a secondary security system installed by the couple.

Ironically, this double locking system prevented them from driving away. They had to contact the car manufacturer to remotely unlock the system after proving ownership of the vehicle. It was kind of an adventure, almost fun, Mr. Simpson shared. But I really thought the police would act faster, especially with the exact location available.

A Strongly Discouraged Practice

This case is not unique: more and more car owners are equipping their vehicles with AirTags to recover their property in case of theft. Apple has never promoted this use, but does not prohibit it. However, the company, like many security experts, strongly advises against going to the location oneself – the physical risks are real, especially if a confrontation with the thieves occurs.

This incident raises questions about the use of AirTags in property protection. Useful for locating a bag, a bike, or even luggage, these small trackers are also used – often in unconventional ways – to track vehicles, sometimes at great risk.

And of course, we’re waiting for the second generation of AirTag, whose details have been found in the iOS 26 code!