Police say Apple AirTag helped catch serial thief

CHARLOTTE — A tracking device that some criminals use to stalk people actually helped Charlotte-Mecklenburg police track down a thief.

Police say someone broke into cars parked at the Hilton Garden Inn near Northlake Mall and at least one other business. According to investigators, one of the victims had an Apple AirTag attached to his backpack that was stolen. Officers were able to track the backpack to a home on Glory Street in north Charlotte.

When police arrived at the home, the suspect jumped into a car and sped off, but he still had the backpack with him. Investigators followed the trail to Fernwood Drive in southeast Charlotte and arrested Javiere Green.

Green is no stranger to law enforcement. According to Mecklenburg County jail records, he’s been arrested five times since 2019 for drugs, stolen firearms, breaking into vehicles and other offenses.

Now, he faces new charges: 14 counts of breaking and entering a motor vehicle, six counts of felony larceny, and three counts of possession of a stolen firearm.

Officers say they recovered the backpack and found guns.

Police remind all gun owners:

- Don’t leave firearms in your car.

- Store them in a safe place in your home (and out of the reach of children).

- If someone steals your gun, report it right away.

Action 9′s Jason Stoogenke emailed Apple to see if it had a statement about this case, but the company did not respond in time for this report.

(WATCH BELOW: How to make sure someone isn’t using an Apple AirTag to track you)

How to make sure someone isn’t using an Apple AirTag to track you

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