Ormond man discovers wallet was stolen thanks to Apple AirTag

Ormond Beach Observer
Cops Corner

Jan. 25

Wallet in motion

5:22 p.m. — 600 block of South Nova Road, Ormond Beach

Theft. A 27-year-old Ormond Beach man's wallet was stolen after he dropped it — but he only noticed when he received an AirTag alert that his wallet was moving away from him.

According to a police incident report, the man believes he likely misplaced his wallet either inside a gas station convenience store or in its parking lot. Once he noticed it was missing, he tracked the AirTag to Daytona Beach's LPGA Boulevard, where it was discarded at the intersection with Outlet Boulevard. He collected the AirTag with gloves and returned to the gas station to complete the police report.

Police were unable to identify a suspect but forwarded the case to the department's criminal investigations unit.

Jan. 29

Threats for cash

9:56 p.m. — 100 block of Sunset Point Drive, Ormond Beach

Suspicious incident. Police responded to a home after a 35-year-old Ormond Beach reported receiving text messages threatening to send hitmen to kill him and his family if he didn't send $1,500 via a mobile payment service app.

The man told police he had received a phone call earlier in the day from the same number, but had it ignored it as he didn't recognize the number. He then began receiving the text messages, which he showed to police. The text messages included a photo of the man that was sourced from his employer's website, and a photo of the man's infant son, according to the police report.

Officers advised him to continue to ignore the texts as they were likely an attempt to defraud him of money, and to call police again if any new contact attempts were made.