Tech Savvy Heroes: AirTag Child Rescue, DarkSword Hack, and More Adventures

Discover the latest Apple Crime Log, where we delve into crimes related to Apple products. In this edition, read about how an Apple AirTag aided in locating a stolen bike with a sleeping child, a New York man caught stealing iPhones in California, and Russian hackers targeting Ukrainian iPhone users.

Apple AirTag Assists in Finding Sleeping Child

German police successfully recovered a stolen bicycle with a missing child thanks to an Apple AirTag concealed on the bike. The incident took place on March 24 in Hamburg, as reported by Der Spiegel.

A couple had left their four-year-old child sleeping in a bicycle trailer outside a shop on Kieler Street while they made a quick purchase. Upon exiting the store, they discovered that the bike, along with the connected trailer containing their child, was missing. The parents immediately contacted the police, leading to a large-scale search involving multiple officers in cars, on motorcycles, and even a helicopter.

The outcome was positive as the AirTagged bike was traced to a nearby DIY store within minutes. The child in the trailer was found unharmed and still asleep when the police arrived.

A 58-year-old woman was apprehended in connection with the theft. Police mentioned that the suspect appeared to be intoxicated and decided to steal the bike without knowing there was a child inside the trailer.

Although Apple does not market the AirTag for tracking children, there have been instances where the tracker has assisted in locating lost individuals, as well as stolen items, simultaneously.

New York Man Arrested for iPhone Thefts in California Apple Stores

An 18-year-old individual from New York was taken into custody in Southern California on March 18 for stealing multiple iPhones from Apple Stores in the area, as reported by AppleInsider.

The Irvine Police Department humorously mentioned on Instagram that “an Apple a day keeps the doctor away. Seven stolen iPhones in a backpack get you in handcuffs.” This isn’t the first time the Irvine police have used Apple-related puns in their social media posts.

The culprit, Serigne Fallou Niang, was caught pilfering two “Cosmic Orange” iPhones from the Irvine Spectrum Apple Store. Subsequent searches uncovered seven more iPhones allegedly taken from other Apple Stores in Southern California, leading to Niang’s arrest on charges of burglary, grand theft, and possession of stolen property.

Russian Hackers Target iPhone Users in Ukraine

A group of hackers with suspected ties to the Russian government targeted iPhone users in Ukraine using a new hacking toolkit named DarkSword. Apple promptly released iOS patches to prevent the toolkit’s usage on iPhone models dating back to 2015.

According to TechCrunch, the hackers, belonging to a group called UNC6353, aimed to steal personal data and potentially cryptocurrency from Ukrainian iPhone users using the new hacking tools.