2025 Mar 14, 10:25
AirTags were used to track stolen luggage from Charlotte airport to a suspect's home, resulting in the arrest of the thief. Catherine Gavino, whose luggage was stolen, expressed her desire for justice in an exclusive interview with Queen City News. The Gavino family had traveled from Miami to spend Christmas in North Carolina but discovered that one of their bags was missing upon arrival at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. In a twist of irony, Gavino had purchased an AirTag to locate her luggage, inspired by influencers she had seen on YouTube
The AirTag showed that the stolen bag was on its way to Gastonia. Despite the tag's location disappearing after a center point, the family continued their search. On Christmas Day, Gavino noticed that the AirTag was located at a house in Gastonia and alerted the police. Authorities found not only the Gavino family's suitcase but also another victim's stolen luggage inside the house
It was later discovered that someone else had also reported a similar issue with their AirTag. Although not much was left in the recovered suitcase, the arrest of the suspect brought some closure to the Gavino family. The suspect now faces multiple theft charges and a drug charge, with a bond set at $10,000.