Long Beach man tracks stolen car with Apple Airtag

Dashcam video showed the thief driving around the neighborhood, into alleyways, changing the license plates and even washing the stolen vehicle at a car wash. Mekahlo Medina reports for the NBC4 News on April 22, 2024.

[AveIvy]

So, let me get this straight . . . after calling the police when his vehicle was stolen, this man had to track his own vehicle, found his vehicle, confronted the bum who stole it, got his car back and the thief left his wallet & license behind . . . . But, the only thing the police can say is "Don't try this on your own and we'll get back to you if/when we've arrested the criminal yet". WTF?!?!

[curlyjuneberrieso]

The police took 4 hours to respond. Unfortunately car theft is not a top priority.

[rtej]

The police states not to confront the thief but unfortunately neither will they.

[hyder]

He really stole a car, didn't notice the dashcam, cleaned it, filled up the tank and left his wallet so that they can charge him for a crime. Criminal of the year.

[ebutuoy]

Why disguise his identity. Neighbors have the right to know there's a thief among them. The police don't care and don't want to be bothered so you might as well look for it yourself..follow, wait until the thief leaves it then use your key and steal it back.

[drummertroy]

Be sure to blur the criminal. Definitely protect him

[bombaybeach]

I've got an airtag hidden in my car too. The LAPD is useless. Glad this guy confronted the thug. No one else was going to help him.

[RedFoxwithTubeSocks-hijj]

No wonder it was so difficult for police to find and identify the suspect. He's got a blurry face.

[jackiedecoma]

Since the police can't do their job the victim has to do it himself. 80 cars stolen since January 😮 Yet nothing is being done to stop it.

[steazemonster]

And if he got in a physical altercation he’d be arrested for assault and the thief wouldn’t be charged with a thing

[valestivale]

"Dont confront suspects, we dont want to actually have to do our job"

[tgkjqis]

They won’t arrest him now that he doesn’t have the car anymore.

[DueceHagertyTv]

He’s lucky it wasn’t on a boat headed to Dubai. 😅💯

[tonycruise]

useless police they not gonna do anything

[lashurediscussion]

Great work on the car owner, glad he was able to get his car back with no harm to him.

[Margrace-in]

I put airtags on all my things because criminals are too dumb to think they wont be tracked.

[kikeruiz]

I don't know why the thieves' id is covered up? They need to be ashamed

[isaac]

Often, *Your very own worst enemies are friends, neighbors* and *even family.* It’s very *rare that complete strangers who don’t know your pattern and things about you to randomly target you.*
That ‘neighbor’ had noticed this guy’s expensive car and his wife’s around, learned their schedules etc. That home had been watched for a while before the car theft because the thief was confident that he could easily steal the next vehicle at that same driveway.

[mickaelholladay]

That MoFo guilty ALL day long. Let us see his ID!!!

[PetePuebla]

Brave man. Sure you want your car back but I'm not sure if it's worth risking your life. You never know if that robber has a gun.