Police issue warning as stranger tracks woman using AirTag

Police in Hereford have issued a warning after a local woman was tracked by a stranger via her iPhone and a new AirTag.

PCSO Christina Howard from the Hereford Rural North Safer Neighbourhood Team said: "Recently I have dealt with an incident on our Policing area whereby a lady who had an Apple iPhone was tracked by an unknown user using an "Air Tag".

"This is not something that we have come across before and as you can imagine it was very concerning for all involved. "

"We have since found out that the company Apple have developed a device to keep track of your luggage, keys or any of your items that you wish. It is very similar to "find my iPhone". You would put the little round device (like a magnet) on to your luggage when you go away and you would be able to keep track of it on your phone and also find out where it was if your luggage went missing."

"This sounds like a really good idea but unfortunately it seems that the air tags are now being used for criminal activity. Reports are starting to come in (mainly in the US) that the air tags are being used for stalking. This could be where someone puts an air tag in your car or in your handbag and that user would then be able to keep track of where you go."

"One positive on this is that Apple have had to install a security alert which means that if there is an unrecognized air tag near you, your iPhone will receive an alert to let you know. " she added.