Tracked stolen AirPods lead to arrest of break-and-enter suspect in Abbotsford, B.C.

A 29-year-old Mission man who allegedly broke into a home in Abbotsford, B.C., sabotaged his own escape attempt after a stolen set of AirPods led police directly to him.

According to a statement from Mission RCMP, the resident of the Abbotsford farm property learned his home had been broken into – and a pair of Apple AirPods and numerous vehicle keys had been taken – the morning of May 29.

Using a tracking app on his phone, he followed the AirPods to an Abbotsford gas station and arrived to find a “suspicious vehicle” being filled up at the pump, the statement said.

According to police, the suspects attempted to flee after recognizing the man’s vehicle as the same one they had attempted to break into just hours earlier. One suspect swiftly reversed with the gas pump still slotted into the car, leaving the other to remove it before they both fled the area.

The goose chase continued as the man followed his stolen earphones to a mall parking lot in Mission, only to watch the suspects take off once more as they saw his truck arrive. The suspects were reported to be “driving dangerously and into oncoming traffic,” police said.

The suspects were caught after they fled for their home on Sixth Avenue with the tracked tech in tow, ultimately leading the man, and the police, directly to them.

“Police were called, and Mission RCMP’s Crime Reduction Unit used unmarked vehicles to conduct surveillance of the residence, while other officers applied for a search warrant,” police said in the statement.

“The warrant was granted hours later, and officers from Mission RCMP and the Abbotsford Police Department executed the search warrant that evening.”

Investigators found the AirPods, stolen keys, and “various other identification documents,” and a Mission man was taken into custody, said police. He was found to have numerous prior convictions for property crimes and other offences.

“Although this investigation had a successful outcome, police caution the public not to follow or approach someone whom they believe has stolen from them, and to instead immediately call police, as property crime offenders can often resort to desperate measures to try to get away,” Mounties said in the statement.

“Fortunately, in this case, the only casualty was a broken gas pump hose.”