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F1 racer uses Apple iPhone ‘Find My’ to track thief who stole AirPods

IT House May 25 news, according to Apple Insider, after being robbed on Monday, Formula 1 driver Sebastian Vettel tried to retrieve his belongings and used the Find My app on his iPhone to track his AirPods to hunt down the thief.

After the Spanish Grand Prix on Monday morning, Sebastian Vettel, driving with his family, stopped his Aston Martin at a hotel in Barcelona and got out of the car. The thieves took the opportunity to snatch a backpack from the car and fled.

According to iPadizate, the four-time Formula 1 champion did not immediately contact police and instead attempted to handle the theft himself. Sebastian Vettel picked up an electric scooter and opened the “Find My” app to track the AirPods in the bag.

Police later chased the thief in the city with Sebastian Vettel and urged Sebastian Vettel to file a complaint at the police station instead of continuing the chase.

Eventually, the racer was taken to a grocery store, where he found the AirPods left in a vase on display at the store. Apparently, the thieves found out that they were being tracked by AirPods.

Police have yet to locate the thieves, but hope to identify them based on the hotel’s security footage.

In addition to the AirPods, the backpack contained some personal items, including the racer’s driver’s license, passport, and several cancelled credit cards.

Robbery of Formula 1 drivers can be lucrative for thieves, in part because of the high value of their property. In July 2021, British F1 driver Lando Norris’ $50,000 watch was stolen after a sporting event, while in April 2022, driver Charles Leclerc’s $320,000 watch was stolen in Italy.

While AirTags are best known for helping people track lost items, the Find My system helps in other ways too. In February, an iPad was used to hunt down a kidnapper.

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