Using Airtags To Help With Possible Theft Prevention

[EUCandME]

Hey Guys! I have been using Apple Airtags for a while now for things such as keys, wallets etc. I have had an idea where possibly as a "last resort" an Airtag could assist with locating a stolen wheel or at least reassure that the wheel is in its left location. I have seen threads about alarm systems which has a similar use case. Sadly, my wheel can not be locked up easily unless in a locker or cage. The Airtags also have a feature where if it leaves your proximity (around 20ft) you will receive a notification. This could be useful if you are in a location where keeping your wheel directly next to you or in line of sight at all times isn't possible. Airtags receive location updates from anywhere in the world as passing iPhones can automatically relay the location back to you. I am thinking of hiding my Airtag behind the wheels access panel. Please let me know your thoughts and suggestions! 

Edited August 25, 2021 by EUCandME

[mike_bike_kite]

20 minutes ago, EUCandME said:

Please let me know your thoughts and suggestions! 

We get very few wheel thefts reported on here and I'm not sure why would you leave the wheel somewhere vulnerable all by itself anyway.  Most folk don't even know what these things are but if someone did know what they are, and they wanted to steal a wheel, would they go after a Ninebot ONE?

Kingsong do have immobilisation codes built into some of their wheels. 18 inch wheels tend to have accessible wheel spokes you could use to lock the wheel - keep in mind carrying a U-lock and crashing is likely to hurt you. I guess you could have a remote controlled luggage alarm inside the case that would go off when the wheel is moved. I just keep mine with me when going to shops, cafes and pubs - if I need to go to the loo then I'd ask someone to watch it. Probably best though not arriving with all the Christmas lights flashing.

[EUCandME]

Thanks for your reply! That's fair was just suggesting. My use case is predominantly for commuting. I have it at work where I have to leave it in a locker room (does not fit in a locker). I wish I had a more premium wheel with more features as you stated. I am new to the EUC community! I have noticed that curiosity often causes people to look and touch sometimes move 

Edited August 25, 2021 by EUCandME

[The Fat Unicyclist]

Just get "Roomba model 12C" printed on one side of it (in a nice curve) and then leave it lying with that side upward...

No one will care about it any more!

You're welcome...   

[EUCandME]

This is perfection ahah. 

Oh wow have you got any pictures? Glad I'm not the only one who has thought of this!

[mike_bike_kite]

47 minutes ago, EUCandME said:

I wish I had a more premium wheel with more features as you stated.

I was suggesting you upgrade and certainly wasn't putting down your wheel   The premium wheels cost a fortune and you'd just worry about them more. They also weigh a tonne. My KS16S had the immobilisation feature but I never used it (an I like in London). If you're storing it at work then I'd just put it in a bag with no handles so it's out of sight and make sure both the bag and the wheel have your name and phone number on. People will poke a wheel because they're curious but I can't see work colleagues opening up a bag that's clearly labelled. The Mten3 is a wheel that probably will fit in a locker, it will go faster as well but it won't be as stable as your Ninebot.

[EUCandME]

@div That's smart! Thanks for providing images.  I love the relative affordability and size of the Airtags so even though as mentioned prior theft is rare. I see it as an added feature for my wheel that I otherwise wouldn't have.

[EUCandME]

Don't worry no offence was taken @mike_bike_kitein the slightest! I aim for 2000km on my starter wheel and hopefully i will have enough experience and money to invest to a better wheel. Speed for me has already become too little. Speaking of bags i have been looking at push bike wheel bags. Like a 27" bag and hopefully my wheel would hide in that. But i agree a bag is a very good idea. 

Edited August 25, 2021 by EUCandME

[EUCandME]

 

3 minutes ago, div said:

I can't remember how the S2 is inside the well, but many EUCs have a lot of ribs and stuff you could fasten to.
If it's a slick surface helicopter tape (or other strong tapes) should do the trick. Else there should be space enough in the side cover if you open it, but its a slight PITA due to clips facing the hard way. (the more you pry the better they hold)

Yeah I need to take a proper look at locations for it. I'm thinking some good quality double sided tape and attaching the lid of the Airtag to a panel. That way with a twist motion i could take the main body of the tag off and replace the battery. 

[Nivel]

I use Smart Tags (Samsung) for my KS-16  and will put one on my Monster Pro as well.

They are not only good for thefts but if you crash somewhere and you are unconscious your friends/family could find you if you have shared your Samsung account with them.

[EUCandME]

Thanks for the reply @Nivelinteresting use case! I also believe modern day smart watches do this for you. I have an apple watch and it features fall detection where if a fall is detected it will give you a notification. If no response to the notification is given the watch will alert your designated emergency contacts .  

[mikar]

You may already be aware of the safety features in AirTags, but they aren't yet mentioned in this thread so I'll do that just to be sure. If a possible thief has an iPhone, he may get a notification of an unknown AirTag to his phone. Also the AirTag will start beeping after it has been away from you for three days. More details at e.g. https://www.imore.com/problem-airtags-safety-features.

Another article says that Apple will shorten the beeping delay in a future update and make an Android app to detect a foreign AirTag. https://www.macrumors.com/2021/06/03/apple-airtags-anti-stalking-measures/

I think there's some GPS trackers made for vehicles, pets, chilren or elderly people. They could work for tracking an unicycle too.

Edited August 25, 2021 by mikar

[EUCandME]

2 minutes ago, mikar said:

You may already be aware of the safety features in AirTags, but they aren't yet mentioned in this thread so I'll do that just to be sure. If a possible thief has an iPhone, he may get a notification of an unknown AirTag to his phone. Also the AirTag will start beeping after it has been away from you for three days. More details at e.g. https://www.imore.com/problem-airtags-safety-features.

Another article says that Apple will shorten the beeping delay in a future update and make an Android app to detect a foreign AirTag. https://www.macrumors.com/2021/06/03/apple-airtags-anti-stalking-measures/

I think there's some GPS trackers made for vehicles, pets, chilren or elderly people. They could work for tracking an unicycle too.

Hi @mikarthanks for your reply buddy. Yes I am aware of those features. I would hope if in a theft situation that could act as a deterrence or at least cause them to dump the wheel somewhere. Also, the location i would put the airtag is inside the wheel panel which at least on my wheel requires a screwdriver to open. If a thief was to steal the wheel i would like to think they couldn't easily access the tag. In that situation where hypothetically my wheel was stolen I would much rather my wheel damaged and thrown away by the thief than that individual enjoy my stolen property ahahah. 

[EUCandME]

1 minute ago, div said:

They do indeed have an anti stalk feature, but it doesn’t deploy very fast. My partner still haven’t had any warning in spite of my tags being around for a while now. (Well do some proper tests). The thief would also have to keep the device near to be warned, chances are it would get stored somewhere. The sound can be muffled (that part is anyway wonky and might get changed?)

Airtags are not perfect for tracking theft, you would have to follow the EUC or contact the police rapidly. However for the price and size they should do the job better than nothing.

Proper GPS tags are better but expensive and require more energy and sometimes subscriptions.

I completely agree. Possibly the title is a bit misleading but i was proposing a solution that @divalso seems to understand. Its an extremely inexpensive solution to adding a tracking feature to your EUC.    

[EUCandME]

Small update. My Airtag arrived last night. I managed to complete the impossible task of opening the ONE S2 side panel. There is a perfect spot above the battery within the sealed compartment! A bit of high quality double sided and I am done!. The wheel sits in a shed located at the bottom of my garden and it still is connecting to my phone! Very happy with how it turned out.

[GothamMike]

On 8/25/2021 at 4:21 AM, mike_bike_kite said:

We get very few wheel thefts reported on here and I'm not sure why would you leave the wheel somewhere vulnerable all by itself anyway.  Most folk don't even know what these things are but if someone did know what they are, and they wanted to steal a wheel, would they go after a Ninebot ONE?

Kingsong do have immobilisation codes built into some of their wheels. 18 inch wheels tend to have accessible wheel spokes you could use to lock the wheel - keep in mind carrying a U-lock and crashing is likely to hurt you. I guess you could have a remote controlled luggage alarm inside the case that would go off when the wheel is moved. I just keep mine with me when going to shops, cafes and pubs - if I need to go to the loo then I'd ask someone to watch it. Probably best though not arriving with all the Christmas lights flashing.

Das Shorts is mentioning EBikes and others PEVs are being snatched from riders by force in NYC. EUCs will be next. If a thief can get 300 bucks for a EUC, they will take it from you. 

Bike theft is considered a petty crime in most cities, no bail, easily sold for cash. 

[mike_bike_kite]

I honestly have no idea why you're quoting me (or resurrecting this thread) but London is no different. In all probability I'd say it's a lot worse here as I've had two gangs try and steal my own (petrol) scooter while I was riding it. This was the major reason for me moving back to motorcycles as the little dears didn't know how to ride those. Sadly anyone from the age of about 6 knows how to ride an ebike or an escooter but only a tiny percentage of people can ride an EUC and a 30Kg ewheel isn't the easiest of things to just run away with. Here the most likely group to take your EUC by force is the police.