AirPods, Tesla video help Forsyth Co. deputies track down stolen car
Woman uses AirPods, Tesla video to track stolen car
A pair of Apple AirPods and video from a nearby Tesla vehicle was used to track down a stolen car that was taken outside the Primrose School when a mother was dropping her child off inside.
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. - A pair of AirPods and video captured by a nearby Tesla helped Forsyth County deputies quickly track down a man accused of stealing an idling car from outside a school.
Forsyth County stolen vehicle tracking
What we know:
According to the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office, witnesses saw a man walk up to the running vehicle outside a Primrose School on Monday, Aug. 17, get inside and drive away.
The vehicle's owner had stopped on her way to work and gone inside for about 30 seconds to drop off her child, leaving the engine running.
Donald Murray. Courtesy of Forsyth County Sheriff's Office
AirPods lead deputies to stolen car
How they found it:
The woman had left her AirPods inside the vehicle, allowing law enforcement to track their location.
Deputies followed the signal to the entrance of a local subdivision, where they found the stolen vehicle abandoned.
Investigators said the suspect continued on foot, dropping various items along the way before attempting to hitchhike.
Tesla video helps identify suspect
The alleged car thief had another problem: A nearby Tesla had captured clear video of him during the theft, according to the sheriff's office.
Members of the agency's warrant unit searching the area recognized the man from the video and took him into custody.
What they're saying:
According to Stacie Miller of the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office, Murray dropped the victim's wallet and AirPods next to the car after parking it, and threw her cellphone into a trash can.
"There was no video at the daycare. So, the deputies were looking for any type of video they could find. Come to find out that there was a Tesla parked close by," Stacie Miller with the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office said.
Miller explained how deputies used technology to locate the stolen car, stating, "They were able to track it with the AirPods. They did find the vehicle at a nearby subdivision where he had left it."
Regarding the victim's belongings, Miller said, "He took her wallet and he dropped it next to the car. The AirPods he dropped near the car and her cell phone. He took her cell phone, but he dropped that in a trash can."
Addressing the suspect's claim that he had permission to take the vehicle, Miller noted, "He didn't ask her. He just saw an opportunity and took it."
What we don't know:
The suspect has been identified as Donald Murray. According to an incident report, Murray told police that someone had told him he could "borrow" the vehicle and he planned to drive it to Gainesville. Murray claimed he asked a "female" for permission and she said yes. However, police reviewed the available video and did not see any women near Murray and the vehicle when it was taken.
The stolen vehicle was returned to its owner.