Police in Waterbury, Connecticut, recently recovered a stolen Ferrari 812 GTS worth over half a million dollars, thanks to an unlikely hero: a pair of Apple AirPods. The luxury car was taken from Greenwich in mid-September, but its recovery was made possible when the owner realized that his AirPods were still inside the vehicle and tracked them through Apple’s Find My app.
Swift Action from Police
Once the signal was detected, Waterbury’s Auto Theft Task Force traced the car to a gas station on South Main Street. Officers arrived to find the Ferrari parked, but as they approached, the suspect attempted to escape. In his haste, he left behind an iPhone in the vehicle, which quickly revealed his identity as 22-year-old Dion Schontten, a repeat offender known to local authorities.
Arrests and Criminal Backgrounds
Further investigation led to the arrest of Schontten and a second suspect, 19-year-old Keon Webster. Both men had a history of auto theft, with Webster facing his seventh charge and Schontten booked for a repeat offense. Police suspect the pair may be linked to other car theft cases in the region.
Technology as a Crime-Fighting Tool
While Apple’s AirTags are often spotlighted for lost-item tracking, this case underscores how even AirPods and iPhones can play an unexpected role in crime prevention and resolution. The ability to trace a stolen vehicle through a connected device demonstrates how consumer technology is reshaping modern policing.
In the end, a simple set of AirPods helped recover a $575,000 supercar and put two repeat offenders back into custody. It’s a reminder that everyday tech can make a powerful difference in real-world investigations.