I started blogging again! Short posts while I get my writing muscles strong again.
Here's one about a scholarship program for hackers that I started at my high school (@mineolahs):
My scooter was stolen last week. Unknown to the thief, I hid two Airtags inside it. I was able to use the Apple Find My network and UWB direction finding to recover the scooter today. Here’s how it all went down:
3) Act quickly, before the anti-stalking feature kicks in. Damage done to my handlebars was likely in response to the regular noises from the Airtag.
4) Limit your in-person interactions and always involve the police. Don’t try to retrieve your stolen goods until you have backup.
Here are a few lessons learned if you’re using Airtags for theft recovery:
1) Use an Airtag adhesive that blends in and muffles noise. It’s clear my thief was looking for them.
2) Do not turn on Lost Mode. It immediately alerts the thief they’re being tracked.
I filled out a report at the precinct, and my two patrolmen get a parade of high fives from their peers. No one can remember the last time they solved an e-bike crime! I teach them all how to use Airtags, then hop in a Lyft home. @NinebotGlobal agrees to RMA the scooter ♥️.
I immediately encountered resistance:
1) go back to where it was stolen and call 911
2) that’s not our precinct
3) we can’t help you if it’s inside a residence
4) I’m not familiar with your voodoo magic^H^H^H Airtags
As I further inspect the scooter, the cops start asking questions: Do you sell used e-bikes? Do you collect info from the seller? Do you ask they prove ownership? What is the contact info for the person who dropped this scooter off? No, No, No, and we don’t know.
An employee inside realizes we're investigating further. He immediately becomes agitated: I should be happy I got my scooter back and leave. It’s my fault for getting it stolen. I’m screwing up his day. This isn’t how we do things in Brooklyn. More joined in.
It’s at this point that I noticed there were cameras indoors. In hushed tones, I excitedly told the cops, “Ask for video from last Tuesday at noon.” As I walked the scooter outside, I further reiterated, “they’ll delete it if you don’t get video now.”
I move outside while one cop retrieves the evidence, but the most aggressive employee followed me. He says, “All you’re doing is making enemies.” Gets closer to me, and pantomimes shooting me. He implies I’d get murdered if he sees me again.
At this point, one mechanic started making excuses for the current state of it: the woman who brought it in had complained about the brakes, so he cut the power line to the handlebars and then removed them. This is not how to repair brakes:
Seconds later, I walked right into it. My scooter! The employees were in disbelief: How did I know it was mine? I played sounds from an Airtag. Not good enough. I paired to it with the Ninebot iOS app. This convinced the last holdouts.
I also had NYPD meet me at the nearest street corner but they were resistant to helping. They weren’t familiar with Airtags, thought I might be enlisting them to steal something, and refused to walk with me if I knocked on a door or into a store.
