An AirTag Miracle: NYC Taxi Edition

[JackieMac]

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I had a pretty eventful few days that started with leaving my Q3 in a NYC taxi but ended with getting it back. I thought some might find this interesting, helpful, or amusing, especially the "AirTag skeptics."

I spent last weekend in Manhattan with my college-age son, making it a perfect opportunity for street and travel photography with my month-old Q3. This past Tuesday, we took a cab to LaGuardia for our return flight to Boston. Going through security, I realized I'd left my camera bag in the cab. The black bag must have blended in with the floor mats. It was a sinking feeling—my Q3, an SSD with all my photos, spare batteries, SD cards, and all in an Oberwerth Q bag. The total loss was close to $8K after sales taxes.

Here's where it gets nuts. I'd slipped an AirTag in the bag's purpose-made pouch a couple of weeks ago, so I could see that the bag was back in Manhattan. My son suggested we get a cab back to the city and try to track it down. After being turned down by one driver, we found one who agreed to take us on a wild goose chase. We monitored the bag's location on our iPhones and updated the driver. After 15-20 minutes driving around Manhattan, we realized a cab couldn't keep up, so my son got a Citi Bike to chase it.

After half an hour, we realized the AirTag wasn't updating quickly enough. Defeated, we went back to LaGuardia, missed the flight, and I got another one back to Boston. I resigned myself to never seeing the camera again.

At home, I monitored the AirTag and spent the last few days phoning and emailing NYC cab customer service. Without a receipt, all I remembered was the driver’s first name. On Tuesday, I noticed the bag at a large apartment complex in the Bronx overnight, probably where the driver lives. The next day, the AirTag was all over the city, including the Port Authority where we'd been picked up. I continued following up with the taxi commission but got nowhere.

Last night, I saw the AirTag stationary in Queens for several hours. Zooming in on the "Find My" app, I realized it was at a taxi garage. I Googled the garage, found a number, and was told to call back at 7am today.

To make a long story slightly shorter, the dispatcher at the garage had my camera! As a teacher on vacation, I was able to leave my home near Boston by 7:30, drive to Queens, and got back a couple of hours ago. None of this would have been possible without the AirTag. I left a nice tip for the driver and thanked the dispatcher for their honesty. I thought for sure someone would have tried to sell it at B&H. This restored some of my faith in the goodness of people, and hopefully, will help someone else find their lost Leica!

[JackieMac]

56 minutes ago, AussieQ said:

One suggestion for members with very senior parents who are still driving is to put one in their car so you can at least see where they are should they become lost or uncontactable for some reason. I know people will say that is stalking, its not...its caring for a loved ones and their welfare. 

That's a really great idea, re: the parents. Totally agree!

[BWColor]

Yup, one in my camera bag, all luggage when traveling, my wallet, my keys and my emergency heart med vial..

When back from Korea last month, American lost my daughter’s checked bag.  AirTag was useful in tracking it down on the tarmac.

Glad things worked out.  Insure your cameras.  Actually, I’m not sure that most insurances would cover you because this could be construed as abandonment.

Edited August 17, 2024 by BWColor

[student]

On 8/17/2024 at 4:54 AM, JackieMac said:

I had a pretty eventful few days that started with leaving my Q3 in a NYC taxi but ended with getting it back. I thought some might find this interesting, helpful, or amusing, especially the "AirTag skeptics."

I spent last weekend in Manhattan with my college-age son, making it a perfect opportunity for street and travel photography with my month-old Q3. This past Tuesday, we took a cab to LaGuardia for our return flight to Boston. Going through security, I realized I'd left my camera bag in the cab. The black bag must have blended in with the floor mats. It was a sinking feeling—my Q3, an SSD with all my photos, spare batteries, SD cards, and all in an Oberwerth Q bag. The total loss was close to $8K after sales taxes.

Here's where it gets nuts. I'd slipped an AirTag in the bag's purpose-made pouch a couple of weeks ago, so I could see that the bag was back in Manhattan. My son suggested we get a cab back to the city and try to track it down. After being turned down by one driver, we found one who agreed to take us on a wild goose chase. We monitored the bag's location on our iPhones and updated the driver. After 15-20 minutes driving around Manhattan, we realized a cab couldn't keep up, so my son got a Citi Bike to chase it.

After half an hour, we realized the AirTag wasn't updating quickly enough. Defeated, we went back to LaGuardia, missed the flight, and I got another one back to Boston. I resigned myself to never seeing the camera again.

At home, I monitored the AirTag and spent the last few days phoning and emailing NYC cab customer service. Without a receipt, all I remembered was the driver’s first name. On Tuesday, I noticed the bag at a large apartment complex in the Bronx overnight, probably where the driver lives. The next day, the AirTag was all over the city, including the Port Authority where we'd been picked up. I continued following up with the taxi commission but got nowhere.

Last night, I saw the AirTag stationary in Queens for several hours. Zooming in on the "Find My" app, I realized it was at a taxi garage. I Googled the garage, found a number, and was told to call back at 7am today.

To make a long story slightly shorter, the dispatcher at the garage had my camera! As a teacher on vacation, I was able to leave my home near Boston by 7:30, drive to Queens, and got back a couple of hours ago. None of this would have been possible without the AirTag. I left a nice tip for the driver and thanked the dispatcher for their honesty. I thought for sure someone would have tried to sell it at B&H. This restored some of my faith in the goodness of people, and hopefully, will help someone else find their lost Leica!

I too have faith in goodness of people; a cab driver in Kuala Lumpur once returned a phone I had forgotten in his cab to the hotel when I called up the number, but you are one really lucky guy to have this experience. 

[huwm]

On 8/18/2024 at 5:45 PM, student said:

I too have faith in goodness of people; a cab driver in Kuala Lumpur once returned a phone I had forgotten in his cab to the hotel when I called up the number, but you are one really lucky guy to have this experience. 

same in Barcelona

[Aitor]

I use two airtags, one to see where I have parked the car and another in the camera

[mhasman]

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Lovely happy-ending!  
AirTag is not just a well-build product but great - and free - service from Apple. Kept me once hundreds of $$ on car key, home keys, and keychain.
Unfortunately, AirTag shape and size is not for everything. There is more advanced, modern, slim product, KeySmart SmartCard Wallet Tracker Card. It is on credit card size, slim, light, it has wireless rechargeable batter, better wireless antenna, and works great with Apple's FindMy service. Cuz Apple still did not release AirTags v2, I got one to test with the wallet, now ordering another one.