A Southern California woman fed up with her packages getting stolen out of her post office box sent an Apple AirTag to the address and cleverly tracked down the suspected thief, police said.

The woman had had several items stolen from her mailbox at the Los Alamos Post Office already when she thought of the idea, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday. Apple’s $29 AirTags have become popular items since their 2021 release, helping users keep tabs on the location of anything from their lost keys to wallets and luggage.

On Monday morning, sheriff’s deputies were called to the post office where the woman told officials her mail had been stolen again — including the package with the AirTag.

    • Someonelol@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      2 months ago

      Yeah it’s a federal offense. That said cops can be lazy as shit and usually won’t bother to help unless you’re someone who’s important to them.

        • Scott@sh.itjust.works
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          2 months ago

          Yep I had a USPS worker sign on a signature required package, had it on video.

          Pretty sure he was fired because he fucked around and found out on a package I specifically requested to be signed required.

      • IphtashuFitz@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        If it’s US Mail then contact the US Postal Inspection Service. They’re federal law enforcement specifically for the USPS, and they don’t fuck around.

        • ayyy@sh.itjust.works
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          2 months ago

          Sure, maybe they don’t fuck around, but they also aren’t funded so they don’t do jack shit for you. Thanks DeJoy and Republicans.

      • Ashelyn@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        2 months ago

        Local police also aren’t generally the best to contact over federal offenses. If it’s not immediately actionable, they tend to lose interest and just shove the paperwork onto the “when we get around to it” pile