AirTag for Bike Security - Update: What Happened When I Tracked a Stolen Bike!

[@5gvaccinator343]

A friend of mine managed to track his stolen bike to a garage. Waited for police and a sanction to open it. They found over 20 stolen bikes inside. So it is useful. Not always. But at least it's something.

[@KevCentral]

How long ago was this?

[@5gvaccinator343]

@@KevCentral last summer. In Berlin. Germany.

[@MrOscillot]

It's important if using an AirTag for bike security to remove the speaker. Ideally, the thief doesn't get iOS notifications, and others in close proximity DO use iOS. It's imperfect, but for $30, well worth a shot.

[@user-yv2cz8oj1k]

You would think they would create a specific device for this without the speaker, maybe using the saved space to increase the battery size.

[@MrOscillot]

This way they can feign ignorance when they are inevitably sued by stalking victims.

[@Deathdealer208]

Apple's competitor Tile just put out an Anti-theft mode that seems like an exact response to these issues! To try and prevent stalking problems from bad people, the user has to agree to a fairly strict terms of service and there is a possible $1 million dollar fine for misuse. I'm no lawyer so that part of it seems iffy to me but it makes Tile seem actually useful for tracking stolen bikes. It might be worth a video Kev! Thanks for the great content as always.

[@mypradasatthecleanerss]

Cool though I guess you lose out do you since AirTags use FindMy network but Tile doesn’t? Therefore less check ins?

[@YogiTheBearMan]

The drawback with using tile, as I understand it, is that way less people have the tile app installed compared to people using an iPhone with find my turned on. So your tag is much more likely to just disappear off the grid. Good to know though.

[@EBikeBuilder_]

people have been opening the AirTags and taking the speaker / beeper thing out, that apparently makes them work better as tracking devices

[@jdgdesign]

Thieves most likely set their home location as a generic area like a park or mall, then they can go park there and wait to see if an airtag is in the stolen goods.

[@YogiTheBearMan]

Smart thieves sure

[@ThomasFlorimonte]

Also got to remember, say with someone riding off with your bike(air tag), it's not just the BAD GUY's phone thats tracking/reporting the location of the bike(air tag). ANY iphone that the bike(air tag) passes by "Could" tag it's location. So even if the bag guy puts his phone into airplane mode because his phone shows the alert, chances are someone around him, at some point might not, and the reporting of the location will continue. Unless they find it and discard it which is sure to happen more than not.

[@jaycarneygiants]

Or if BT is turned off

[@MediumHalf]

It's important to keep in mind that the tracking is entirely based on other iPhones being in the area where your Airtag is. These tags don't have GPS or anything like that, so if you, for example, leave your keys in someone's couch and go home and no one nearby has an iPhone, you won't get a ping about it until someone with an iPhone passes by.

[@YogiTheBearMan]

I’ve noticed the location reported seems to be based on the iPhone location that the AirTag pings, which would make sense

[@shaocaholica]

Here’s an idea. Put 2 AirTags on your bike. That way a thief that actually has an iPhone to detect tags may find one and think that’s it. Especially if you put one in a very conspicuous spot and the other really well hidden. Why would anyone put 2 tags on a bike??

[@hughjassol2072]

Third has the option to sound the AirTag alarm, and find every single a AirTag you have hidden

[@johnburfield7186]

The “Bike” designation could be intended to track your kid’s bike as they roam the neighborhood. Also people in large cities that commute to busy places and lock it up for the day.

[@KevCentral]

So you support parental stalking? 😉. I mentioned in the video about locking up in bike racks. The problem with that theory is with the newly neutered functionality it wouldn’t really do anything as far as useable bike discovery/recovery.

[@nauscakes1868]

I have my air tag in my e-bike's battery compartment (Lectric), and everytime I take my bike to work and lock it up at the bike rack, about 5 feet after I walk in the door, I get the ping on my watch that I "left my bike behind." So it constantly lets me know when I'm out of range, lol.

[@YogiTheBearMan]

This video is honestly much more useful than the last one, thanks for the follow up Kev. Do the thieves see the name of the AirTag? Wondering if I should name it something other than “bike” to throw a thief off a bit

[@MrSlinxy]

I think the idea is a fine one… I was thinking of doing this with a tile button before the AirTag came out on my bikes but the tile tracking isn’t so great when it’s out of range.. it’s just a simple case of Apple licensing out the AirTag tech to a third party company to design something dedicated for bikes like a seat or a bike bell, that way the item is too large to sneak it on to someone without them noticing. It’s a shame that a few weirdos, and yes if you stalk someone, you need help… had force Apple to lame a good product.

[@KevCentral]

From my experience and perception - Apple doesn’t typically license out their technology if it competes with one of their own products 🙃

[@karolisliutkevicius2223]

Can I ask you why you didn't like the M1 Pro macbook? I'm using one right now and I love it. Just curious why it didn't work for you.

[@harrygrimley4352]

Kev. Different subject. I saw an add for marin bogof deal on a few bikes. Have you seen this? Is it real? Good deal?

[@themrfabio2459]

In my area (Boston), it is pinged every second. Location is important

[@gusferde]

ok ok, i see how you can grasp at this straw(if you don't know what i'm talking about, find my last comment on the video you did before this one) and i agree with how nonsensical it is for the naming process to categorize the airtag as being used on a bike, you just, don't lose bikes that doesn't happen; if you lose your bike then it got stolen lol, so i would say this is an overlook from apple, don't know if they have removed the bike category by now, or if they forgot to remove "bike" when the airtag update happened. Recently it was announced that apple and google worked on bringing airtag detection for all Android devices with android 6 or later. so yep, using an airtag to recover an stolen bike or item, is not going to work. and it is a bummer because there have been cases of many people recovering their stuff thanks to airtag detection by thieves who didn't use iphones. i guess an airtag can still be used for recovering stolen stuff but you gotta act really fast if not, it's going to be disabled.

[@nauscakes1868]

Yeah, that is weird that Apple would have the "bike" premade name, but not think people would use these to track stolen items. I too am sad that they neutered them. --- I wouldn't call myself an Apple fanboy. I have an iphone, watch, airpods, and an ipad, but I still use my desktop PC for comptuer work. I just appreciate that Apple does good when it does do good. I used my bike as an excuse to buy an airtag just to see how it works. Hopefully, I never have to test it to see if I can track my bike. I got it registered and insured, so I'm covered on the worst case scenario. I think the tag was 25 bucks? Seems like a fun novelty that's not as effective as it should be.

[@vladimir0rus]

Actually it is possible to create an AirTag clone tracker which will be not detectable by phones automatically (iPhone will not notify you). So it there are significant demand it is possible to start manufacturing.

[@Z00L..ChUpAcUpS]

Nice one keV for checking this out 😉

[@walkr7998]

Check out Elevation Lab they make great airtag products, you can hide them in your tubes or under your bike cages. I use their dog collars for airtags too, great little company.

[@Sylvan_dB]

Sounds like Apple thinks the world is like Cupertino - I expect if there were a lot of other phones and Apple gear around the AirTag could check in more often.

[@RyanWalker-z4t]

You speak so authoritatively in your previous video. You should unlist it. Why knowingly spread fud? Gotta get those clicks in…

[@andrewsiasparks]

Someone needs to make a stem cap tracker that you need a barrel or mag key for. The thief wouldn't be able to remove it without cutting the fork off, Or be really good at picking/demoing locks.

[@tazerface8659]

If your idea is anti criminal then it’s of no interest to corporations. Their ESG scores are more important than individual consumer safety and security.

[@XiaoZong322]

Thank you so much for the experiment. Truth be told, I just bought some airtags thinking of using them as anti-theft devices. I guess it's not be too useful from your video😂

[@Bbbuddy]

I dunno. My college roommate used to lose his car. He was a stoner.

[@KevCentral]

Ha!

[@harrygrimley4352]

Dude! Where's my car?

[@Bbbuddy]

I’m offended that the company suspects that I’m going to use its products for an abusive purpose. Would we buy phones that prevent us from making nasty phone calls?

[@jckdnls9292]

It's about money, if their product has a feature that is used for something that gives Apple a negative impression, thus affecting their brand and bottom dollar. then Apple has every right to remove that feature.

[@Chepecafeteria]

Did apple threaten you about bad PR from your last video? Or did they offer something for free so that you do another video?

[@KevCentral]

Lol. Nope. I tested it to see what would happen and this was the results

[@fookingsog]

Apple has become an oxymoron of a company. I came to dislike Apple after they never did create their iPhones to have a MicroSD Card Slot. This was absolutely contrary to their focus of being "environmentally friendly". Environmentally Friendly IMHO would be to simply allow storage expansion with a MicroSD Card as I don't like my stuff going to the cloud. I prefer it to be on my person!!!

[@RussLangPhotography]

This statement doesn’t make much sense??? Another micro sd slot would create more waste than more cloud server storage.

[@RussLangPhotography]

Because not only would you have to expand the energy to create the slot but then you have to make more sd slot cards to go into the slot. Vs non of that if it’s all virtual…

[@fookingsog]

@Russell Lang No. Considering that I would have to buy an iPhone phone with the *MAXIMUM* anticipated storage if I didn't want to use "the cloud", which I don't I want my media to stay with me on the device that I am carrying and if I need to upgrade my storage capacity, it's as simple as inserting a larger MicroSD Card in my Android phone.

[@RussLangPhotography]

@@fookingsog but your point was about being environmentally conscious not convenience for the consumer

[@cup_and_cone]

@@RussLangPhotography What about a removable battery users can swap themselves? Not cost effective to pay Apple to put a new battery in an old iPhone, old phone becomes landfill waste as person buys new phone. Truth is, it's all about maintaining control. Same reason Apple fought so hard against right to repair...they want people to throw out Macbooks and buy new ones instead of independent repair shops being able to fix it.

[@user-yv2cz8oj1k]

I wonder if it could be made to look like some other bike part so even if they did see it they wouldn't know. Or build it into the derailleur or crank internals, so if they ride the bike they are charging the tracker. 🤣

[@mypradasatthecleanerss]

Great idea! Apple please make this

[@ToRo909r]

I have one on my bike, keys, wallet and other items. I love the functionality and I get notified every time. I just changed the batteries on them after it notified me as well. There’s a chance my AirTag won’t help me find my bike if actually stolen. Either way the chances are more than zero and I’ll take it.

[@hughjassol2072]

It’s cheaper to just get another gps tracker, that didn’t tell people where it is or that it exists.

[@Bengy22]

I think one thing that needs to be done on the user side if you still want to use it as a theft device is to go in and remove the speaker. While the thief being notified that a tracker is on the stolen item isn't ideal if they have a harder time finding the air tag (ie: no sound) they might be more likely to just go leave the bike somewhere than take the time to go over the bike looking for it knowing its only a matter of time before the owner comes looking for it. From my understanding this is common on big items like cars, thief's park them somewhere for a few days so see if someone comes to pick it up due to a tracker, if not then they go get it again.

[@EbikeReviews]

I'm a new apple use. I have the iphone 14 Pro to make videos. I hate the iphone. There is no pause button when making videos. The file extension is difficult to work with. You can't adjust the volume settings for alarms vs. ringer. So if your ringer is turned up, your mornings alarm wakes up with such a noise you will think your dead going to hell. You can't adjust them separately. I hate my iphone.

[@mopia]

yeah kev sounds like you dont know how these work. i removed the speaker on both of mine. my gf borrowed my onewheel that has one in it and she had no idea how to find and it continued to work. she got notified but hours after it had already been showing location. so if you are quick about it you could locate thieves house before they realize they are being tracked. you do need to be quick but even if you arent theres good chance they wont find it. also the bike headset mount for airtag is the best location for hiding an airtag. this was summer 2022. not sure if the there have been any changes cuz that 10 minute notification on someone tracking you doesnt sound accurate to my experience

[@naps3386]

So airtag is junk for theft recovery, unless your thief doesn’t have an iphone.

[@AndrewM-if2em]

No one seems to talk about the fact that you can easily slip an old iPhone (preferably a small one.. ie 5, 5s Se ) on a car to track someone with no notifications. So someone intent on doing wrong will find a way. Liberal Apple, of course, instead just neutered the AirTag so paying law abiding customers are punished. Before the trolls attack I have a small nations GDP in apple products. I didn’t hear kev’s alternative suggestion but one option could have been a more robust authentication / registration process with a user agreement that instead of telling a thief where to find the AirTag they get alert that a stolen item is being tracked nearby and the option to contact the owner or police. Meanwhile in the background the ecosystem can log the owners information and the OWNERS location. Detailed registration information provided at set up can be sent to the police directly from apple. So a potential stalker is not only identified but tracked and a actual victim can still locate their stolen items. Just an idea…🤷🏻‍♂️

[@YogiTheBearMan]

an old iPhone especially one with service is more expensive than a $29 AirTag. Implementing anti stalker on AirTag is necessary, unfortunately

[@sheldonh200981]

They do use it for bike theft cause mucoff has one for air tag for in your tire

[@KevCentral]

There are plenty of AirTag holders. The problem is Apple has crippled the AirTag to combat stalking. This has affected how the AirTag works. As mentioned in this video, the thief will get notified (in my test case) before I was able to get tracking data, so they could just disable the AirTag and get a free bike

[@ElevatedD]

@@KevCentral I plan on shaving down my air tag plastic, removing the speaker, & placing it in my seat tube

[@Biking-Viking]

What if the thief has android? Is the air tag only programmed to communicate with Apple? (Wrote this before the very end when you answered the question) Great video thanks

[@nocturnalmayhem0]

its only gotta work long enough to tell ya where the fool lives who cares if they find it after that lol youll know their address or at the least have a location they went too where a camera might have picked them up

[@KevCentral]

In my test there is significant lag in the reporting. Enough for them to get notified and be able to disable the AirTag

[@user-yv2cz8oj1k]

Though if he is a thief and happens to use an android phone, then you are screwed then. 🤣

[@gamekingkiler]

Apple 👎

[@brandonpiedade1182]

First

[@24blade00724]

What do you expect Apple products are garbage

[@YogiTheBearMan]

Good point you added so much to the discussion/s