AirTags lead police to six stolen bicycles in Styria

Tracking devices known as AirTags led police to six stolen bicycles in two cases in Styria on Wednesday, ORF reported. Two Romanian nationals were reported to prosecutors while remaining at liberty.

In the morning, the owner of an electric bicycle reported its theft in Graz. An AirTag attached to the bicycle allowed him to provide police with its possible location.

The signal led officers to a van parked on Puchstraße with no driver inside. After monitoring the vehicle for several hours, police opened it and found three nearly new electric bicycles.

Police identified and temporarily detained the van’s owner, a 44-year-old Romanian national. During questioning, he admitted stealing all three bicycles during the night. Investigations to identify the owners of the other bicycles are continuing.

Second case in southeastern Styria

On Wednesday evening, police received a report that a child’s bicycle had been stolen on September 11. The bicycle was fitted with an AirTag, which indicated Kirchberg an der Raab as its location.

The tracking signal again led police to a parked van with no driver inside. Officers found three bicycles in the vehicle.

Following international inquiries, police identified the owner and then the driver of the van, a 37-year-old Romanian national. He was temporarily detained at an apartment in Kirchberg. During questioning, he denied involvement and said he had only accepted the bicycles for transport. Investigations into their rightful owners are continuing.

After consultation with the Graz public prosecutor’s office, both suspects were reported while remaining at liberty.