HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — What would you do if you were driving in your car or walking down the street and you got a notification saying someone is tracking you?
That situation happened for University Alabama Graduate Sydney Parlagreco after a night out with her friends.
Parlagreco posted her story on Tik Tok looking for answers and she found that several women had experienced the same thing.
Stalkers are buying $30 Apple AirTags and hiding them on personal property to track others unknowingly.
Ever since their release in April 2021, reports of AirTag stalking have been filed across the nation. The original purpose of this new wave of technology was to keep track of your personal items like your wallet or keys.
Huntsville Private Investigator Jeff Means of Sound Mind Investigations says this could just be the beginning.
"Because they're so small, they're only about the size of a fifty-cent piece, you know, you can put these things anywhere," Means explained.
Even though they're small, many people were able to discover them because it sends an alert to the nearest iPhone, a move that could save lives.
When it comes to legality, Means says, "It's not legal for anybody but a spouse or the owner of the vehicle. Alabama law is not real clear about GPS tracking."
The Huntsville Police Department says they have not had any cases of AirTag stalking yet. But, if you do get the alert, Means says to notify the police or a private investigator immediately so they can search your car or other personal items.
The best thing you can do to protect yourself is to watch your bags and be cautious of your surroundings.