find my app iconApple's Find My app was used by police to track two wanted men during a car chase in Melbourne, Australia last month, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.

According to the report, the two men were being tracked from the air by helicopter after an iPad was stolen in an earlier home invasion. Driver Vaatoa Chang, 29, and passenger Jonas Montealegre, 36, carried the ‌iPad‌ with them as they switched stolen cars in an attempt to evade capture.

In the initial phase of the chase, the two fugitives were being tracked by following a stolen car, but when the police helicopter was called in, the two men switched cars, and that's when officers resorted to tracking them via ‌iPad‌.

Initially, it was the victim of the theft that used the ‌Find My‌ app to ping his ‌iPad‌ and follow his stolen Mitsubishi Triton, but police eventually called him off and continued tracking the ‌iPad‌ themselves using the same method.

Police tracked the fugitives for two hours across Melbournes's suburbs using the ‌Find My‌ app, before the two men were killed in a 100km/h collision with a freight truck after running a red light.

Apple's ‌Find My‌ app is typically used for locating your Apple devices when you've misplaced them around the home or office, but the Sydney Morning Herald report is a striking example of how the app can be used by police in real time to trace suspects in cases of theft. The full story can be read here.

Top Rated Comments

SSD-GUY Avatar
70 months ago
Did the guy get his ipad back tho?
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kerr Avatar
70 months ago

So failure to stop now carries the death penalty without trial?
Do I have to reply to all of you that repeat the same stupid thing?

at least 1 home invasion
2 or 3 stolen cars
at least 2 additional attempted carjackings
dangerous high-speed driving

At the time of the fatal crash, the police were not in active pursuit: "The vehicle kept going and started to engage in serious erratic and high-risk driving so we sought to formulate a plan to safely intercept the vehicle. At that stage we weren't actively pursuing, we were still monitoring from the air wing."

The deceased and they alone chose how it would end.


Maybe you are unaware that Australia doesn’t have a “kill first ask questions later” policy.
Who killed them wise guy?
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Sandstorm Avatar
70 months ago
Zero sympathy for the scum criminals. Hope the iPad survived.

I think criminals 100% must be chased, but to minimise danger to public - police must be authorised to use immediate lethal force.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Sandstorm Avatar
70 months ago

So failure to stop now carries the death penalty without trial?
As soon as someone starts to run stop signs and red lights - you're witnessing attempted murder in real time. The second the chase starts to endanger lives of innocent public - imo, immediate lethal force must be applied.

For example - we've seen may times when the fleeing car is already crashed into someone, but the suspect tries to leave again. At that point - overwhelming lethal force is exactly I want from law enforcement, because it is 100% clear that the criminal will endanger more people if the chase continues.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Reason077 Avatar
70 months ago
> “the two men were killed in a 100km/h collision with a freight truck after running a red light.”

This is a good argument for restraint in Police pursuits, especially when you have the ability to track them and catch up with them later.

Sure, you may not have much sympathy for these two, but they could just have easily hit and killed someone totally innocent.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kerr Avatar
70 months ago

I mean, iPads are cool and all, but authorization to end someone’s existence over a stolen car and an iPad is asinine.
maybe you are unaware of their crime spree that evening
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

maxresdefault

Five Features Coming to AirPods Pro 3

Friday June 27, 2025 10:52 am PDT by
Apple hasn't updated the AirPods Pro since 2022, and the earbuds are due for a refresh. We're counting on a new model this year, and we've seen several hints of new AirPods tucked away in Apple's code. Rumors suggest that Apple has some exciting new features planned that will make it worthwhile to upgrade to the latest model. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Heal...
iPhone Car Key WWDC 2025

Apple Announces 13 Automakers Planning to Offer iPhone Car Keys

Friday June 27, 2025 11:42 am PDT by
In 2020, Apple added a digital car key feature to its Wallet app, allowing users to lock, unlock, and start a compatible vehicle with an iPhone or Apple Watch. The feature is currently offered by select automakers, including Audi, BMW, Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and a handful of others, and it is set to expand further. During its WWDC 2025 keynote, Apple said that 13...
anker power bank recall

PSA: Anker Recalls Multiple Power Banks Due to Fire Risk

Friday June 27, 2025 4:16 pm PDT by
Popular accessory maker Anker this month launched two separate recalls for its power banks, some of which may be a fire risk. The first recall affects Anker PowerCore 10000 Power Banks sold between June 1, 2016 and December 31, 2022 in the United States. Anker says that these power banks have a "potential issue" with the battery inside, which can lead to overheating, melting of plastic...
Chase Sapphire Reserve Apple Perk Feature

Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Introduces New Perk for Apple Customers

Wednesday June 25, 2025 2:08 pm PDT by
Chase this week announced a series of new perks for its premium Sapphire Reserve credit card, and one of them is for a pair of Apple services. Specifically, the credit card now offers complimentary annual subscriptions to Apple TV+ and Apple Music, a value of up to $250 per year. If you are already paying for Apple TV+ and/or Apple Music directly through Apple, those subscriptions will...
iPhone 17 Pro Blue Feature Tighter Crop

iPhone 17 Pro Launching in a Few Months With These 12 New Features

Thursday June 26, 2025 2:00 am PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are around three months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max in September this year. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models:Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an...
A18 Pro Chip

New MacBook With A18 Pro Chip Spotted in Apple Code

Monday June 30, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
Apple is developing a MacBook with the A18 Pro chip, according to findings in backend code uncovered by MacRumors. Earlier today, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple is planning to launch a low-cost MacBook powered by an iPhone chip. The machine is expected to feature a 13-inch display, the A18 Pro chip, and color options that include silver, blue, pink, and yellow. MacRumors...
macbook air spacegray purple

Apple Planning to Launch Low-Cost MacBook Powered By iPhone Chip

Monday June 30, 2025 3:20 am PDT by
Apple is planning to launch a low-cost MacBook powered by an iPhone chip, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In an article published on X, Kuo explained that the device will feature a 13-inch display and the A18 Pro chip, making it the first Mac powered by an iPhone chip. The A18 Pro chip debuted in the iPhone 16 Pro last year. To date, all Apple silicon Macs have contained M-series...
CarPlay Ultra Climate Controls

Here's Which Vehicle Brands Will and Won't Offer Apple's CarPlay Ultra

Friday June 27, 2025 9:52 am PDT by
Apple last month announced the launch of CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. There was news this week about which automakers will and won't offer CarPlay Ultra, and we have provided an updated list below. CarPlay Ultra is currently limited to newer Aston Martin vehicles in the U.S. and Canada. Fortunately, if you cannot...
apple watch ultra 2 new black

Apple Watch Ultra 3 Finally Coming After Two-Year Hiatus

Tuesday June 24, 2025 3:40 am PDT by
Apple will finally deliver the Apple Watch Ultra 3 sometime this year, according to analyst Jeff Pu of GF Securities Hong Kong (via @jukanlosreve). The analyst expects both the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 to arrive this year (likely alongside the new iPhone 17 lineup, if previous launches are anything to go by), according to his latest product roadmap shared with...