Waterloo Regional Police are asking residents to be aware after unidentified smart tracking devices were found on personal property and vehicles in the region. The warning, issued on August 12, 2026, comes as police see an increase in reports of the small Bluetooth trackers being placed without the owner’s knowledge.
These devices, often Apple AirTags or similar products, can be used to quietly follow a person’s movements. That can help thieves figure out when a car is left unattended or when a home is empty, opening the door to vehicle theft, break-ins, and other crimes. Police say trackers have been hidden underneath vehicles, behind licence plates, inside trailer hitches, and in wheel wells.
Waterloo Regional Police are urging anyone who finds a tracker they did not put there to leave it alone and call police right away. Residents should avoid handling or removing the device if possible, and make note of exactly when and where it was found. That information can help investigators understand why the device was placed there.
Using a Bluetooth tracker to follow someone without permission can be a crime under Canada’s Criminal Code. It may be considered criminal harassment, which carries a possible sentence of up to 10 years in prison. In 2024, Apple and Google introduced a tool that lets both iPhone and Android phones alert users if an unknown tracker is moving with them.
The issue is not new. Ontario Provincial Police first raised concerns about AirTags being misused in March 2023 after two vehicles near Cornwall had the devices placed on them within 24 hours. Waterloo Region has also faced high crime rates, although recent data showed improvement. Crime severity dropped nine per cent in 2025 to its lowest level since 2016, with fewer break-ins and auto thefts reported.
Anyone who finds a suspicious tracking device is asked to contact Waterloo Regional Police as soon as possible.
