Men put AirTags on couple's SUV, followed them home: Cops
Share this @internewscast.com

Background: Surveillance footage at the home where a couple were allegedly kidnapped in their own driveway (Hillsborough County Sheriff”s Office). Insets (left to right): Luis Charles and Omardy Maldonado Rodriguez (Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office).

In a startling incident in Florida, a couple was reportedly kidnapped at gunpoint right in their driveway after two men allegedly tracked their movements using Apple AirTags.

Sitting in the Hillsborough County Jail are Luis Charles, 26, and Omardy Maldonado Rodriguez, 32. They face charges of armed burglary and armed kidnapping. According to a Facebook post by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, which also shared surveillance footage of the event, the incident occurred on August 19. The couple had just returned to their Odessa home, located roughly 25 miles from Tampa, around 10 p.m. when Charles and Maldonado Rodriguez allegedly confronted them, forcing them out of their SUV at gunpoint and into their garage.

Upon responding to the scene, police discovered an active Apple AirTag taped to the couple’s SUV.

Details from a probable cause statement, as reported by Law&Crime, reveal that the couple got into a “physical struggle” with the suspects upon finding the armed men in their driveway. Charles and Maldonado Rodriguez allegedly compelled the couple to open their garage door. One suspect reportedly took the husband inside the house while the other kept the wife in the garage, the statement detailed.

Inside the home, one suspect allegedly demanded valuables from the husband, saying, “Give me what you have.” Ultimately, the suspects allegedly stole the husband’s keys, including a key fob that triggered the home’s alarm system. They then fled on foot to a nearby vehicle and drove off.

Interestingly, the same AirTags used by the suspects to track the couple led police to track down Charles and Maldonado Rodriguez. Law enforcement officials, after acquiring records from Apple, found that the AirTags were registered to Charles. Additionally, further investigation revealed that the getaway vehicle was registered to Maldonado Rodriguez.

According to court documents, phone records also revealed “multiple phone calls” in the days leading up to Aug. 19, going as far back as Aug. 7.

Police arrested Charles on Oct. 9. While being questioned, he allegedly admitted to purchasing the AirTags found on the victims’ vehicle. Maldonado Rodriguez was arrested the next day. Both men were charged with armed burglary of a dwelling with assault or battery and armed kidnapping. They are in custody at Hillsborough County Jail where they are being held without bond.

On Facebook, Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said, “To be ambushed at gunpoint in the very place you should feel safest is every family’s worst nightmare.”

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Ohio Woman Charged with Attempted Drowning and Physical Abuse of Children in Bathtub Incident

An Ohio woman has been formally charged with child abuse spanning a…

Tragic Incident: Brothers Target Homes with Gunfire from AR-15 and AK-47 After Social Media Dispute, Resulting in the Death of a Sleeping 12-Year-Old Girl

Insets from left: Antawan Benson and Javen Conner (Montgomery County Prosecutor”s Office)…

Mother Describes Heartbreaking Discovery of 7-Year-Old Daughter’s Condition Following Alleged Abuse by Her and Partner, Police Report

Insets, from left to right: Jessica Savangsy, Retuquel Dupree and Savangsy’s 7-year-old…

Repeat Offender Apprehended in Connection with December 5 Ridgeview Neighborhood Shooting

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Authorities have apprehended 43-year-old Jermaine Williams, charging him with…

Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration’s Alleged Unlawful Use of Executive Authority to Restrict Essential Health Care for Transgender Youth

Left: New York Attorney General Letitia James speaks during a press conference…

Individual Accused of Public Nazi Salutes Faces Legal Action

A Canberra man has been charged with allegedly performing Nazi salutes in…

Tragic Discovery: Suspect Apprehended After Missing Person Found Buried

A distressing case in north Texas has shifted from a search for…

Tragic Case: Police Hunt for Mother Allegedly Involved in Infant’s Bath Time Drowning Amid Drug Use

Inset: Briana Arnold (Chittenden Unit for Special Investigations). Background: The apartment complex…

Babysitter Arrested for Severe Assault: Infant Suffers Brain Bleed After Violent Attack

Inset: Emily Duran (Allen County Jail). Background: The 100 block of West…

Tragic Morning: Father Discovers Daughter’s Death After Bringing Home Breakfast

Inset: Diane Grovola (Upper Darby Police Department). Background: The house where Grovola…

Riviera Beach Resident Arrested for Allegedly Stalking Shands Healthcare Professional

Staff Report GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In a concerning development, Dylan Allen Sangricco,…

Elderly Woman’s Disappearance Leads to Shocking Backyard Discovery: Couple Arrested After Police Uncover Buried Body

Left: John Ryan. Middle: Investigators in Jackson, Mississippi, dig up a body…