How AirTags led police to an alleged luggage thief at Florida airport

AirTags continue to prove themselves as the heroes we didn't know we needed in 2022.

Apple's tracking device helped locate a traveler's missing suitcase and items after failing to arrive at Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS) earlier this month, due to alleged theft by an airport employee.

Police successfully located a traveler's missing suitcase containing more than $15,000 worth of jewelry after the traveler reported that her bag was missing on Aug. 9. It never appeared on the luggage carousel at VPS, according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office Airport Security Unit, located outside of Fort Walton Beach.

Officers found the missing items using an AirTag that the traveler had placed in her bag, which police used to identify its location in Mary Esther, Florida, via the Find My app per a press release issued by the department.

"This arrest is an example of excellent teamwork by our Airport Security Unit, our Investigators and the Airport to find the person responsible for these thefts and make sure he is held responsible," Sheriff Eric Aden said in a statement on Facebook on Aug.11.

The defendant, an airline subcontractor working at VPS at the time of the incidents, allegedly removed an AirTag when rummaging through the victim's suitcase. The AirTag reportedly showed the location where the suitcase had last been seen, which led authorities to its retrieval. A second victim also claimed they lost a suitcase that never arrived to the airport in July, containing more than $1,600 worth of items, but police said those belongings had not yet been recovered.

TPG reached out to the police department for additional comments but hadn't heard back by press time.

AirTags have made headlines this year, helping travelers deal with mounting baggage issues at European airports amidst a summer of flight delays and cancelations, further increasing the likelihood of losing checked luggage.

AirTags have exploded in popularity, in part no doubt, because of all the lost luggage issues.

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These handy devices are slightly larger than a quarter and easily fit into a suitcase, allowing travelers to passively keep track of their luggage by slipping one into a pocket in their suitcase or attaching the device as a bag tag.

If your bag gets lost or delayed in transit, you can use Bluetooth to track your suitcase via nearby Apple devices, specifically compatible iPhones or iPads.

You can use the Find My app to track your suitcase via nearby Apple devices, including iPhones and iPads (Airtags connect to any Bluetooth-enabled device on the iOS platform.) If an item is marked "lost," the device will ping and notify you of the location when discovered without transmitting personal data in the process.

Currently, AirTags are available online for purchase. They generally cost less than $100 for a four-pack or around a quarter of that for a single AirTag.

Read our guide for everything you need to know about using AirTags.

For even more, read on:

• The airline couldn't find my luggage — here's how Apple AirTags saved the day
• How AirTags helped me get my delayed bags back (twice in one trip)
• What it's really like to use Apple's new AirTags to track your luggage