Law enforcement arrested a man after an Apple AirTag pinged the location of two stolen vehicles in Harris County.

Ignacio Ulisis Castande, 36, was charged in connection with tampering with a government record and two counts of theft between US$30,000 and US$150,000, KTRK TV reported. He also was accused of taking and dismantling vehicles for parts since 2019, Harris County Constable Precinct 1 spokesman Jeff McShan said.

The two stolen vehicles, a Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon, from Houston Heights were found at a shop on Airline Drive near Mitchell Road after an AirTag pinged inside of one car, McShan said. After authorities got a warrant to search the complex, they found both vehicles were demolished and taken apart.

McShan said law enforcement obtained surveillance video showing a black wrecker towing the vehicles in Houston Heights. A deputy confirmed the wrecker belonged Castande, McShan added.

“So, (the deputy) went to several addresses and he finally found (Castande). When (the deputy) pulled into the apartment complex, the wrecker was in the lot and he asked around and found the apartment, and (law enforcement) arrested (Castande) without any incident,” he said.

Law enforcement said there were more people in other Harris County neighbourhoods affected by the multiple stolen cars in 2019. McShan said since the investigation, there have been “dozens of phone calls from people that have video or someone witnessed their car being taken by a black wrecker truck”.

McShan said the wrecker had been seized by authorities following Castande’s arrest.

Law enforcement encourages people to use tracking devices in vehicles, such as the AirTags, in case their valuables get stolen.

Although AirTags are used for personal items, some people have seen cases of the devices being used for tracking or stalking. A Houston man was arrested after a woman was alerted about an AirTag in her vehicle.

Apple has asked people not to use AirTags for tracking another person.

 - TNS