November 3rd 2023.
Mayor Muriel Bowser of Washington D.C. is taking action to combat the city's rising crime rates, especially the number of car thefts. According to the Daily Mail, car thefts in the city have risen by 101% in 2023, with a total of 5,916 reported car thefts and 754 carjackings this year alone. This is double the number of reported carjackings in September 2022.
In order to combat this issue, Mayor Bowser has announced that residents living in areas with the highest levels of reported carjackings will be given free Apple AirTags or Tile Trackers, depending on their device type. This plan follows a similar initiative by New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who announced the distribution of 500 AirTags in NYC’s 43rd Precinct.
AirTags are a tracking device developed by Apple, and if a car is stolen, its location can be easily tracked using the Find My app. Bowser believes that these tags will help the Metropolitan Police Department in recovering stolen vehicles and will also help to discourage people from attempting to steal cars. Additionally, truck and delivery drivers will be given dashcams at the distribution.
The AirTag distribution will take place between November 7-9. Residents who wish to participate must provide proof of residency and an address located in the eligible areas. Police Chief Pamela Smith stated that motor vehicle thefts have increased by 36% this year compared to last year, but police will not have access to the location of the device.
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