District of Columbia offers digital tracking tags as vehicle thefts increase 110% over last year

The District of Columbia is giving residents digital tracking tags for their vehicles in an attempt to slow the soaring number of thefts, which officials say have increased by 110% over the past year.

The program was introduced Wednesday by Democrat Mayor Muriel Bowser and acting Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith.

The pilot program will address the issue of car thefts – which includes a 36% increase in carjackings over the same period – in the parts of the nation's capital in which the problem is the worst, including Capitol Hill. 

“These tags and tiles will help MPD recover stolen vehicles and hold people accountable,” Bowser said, according to WTOP News. “The word will also get out that this is not a community to come in and steal cars because it won’t be worth your while.”

Smith said that officers observed that vehicles with Apple AirTags or other tracking devices allowed police to more easily track and recover vehicles.