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

Disturbing Incident: Man’s Erratic Behavior Leads to Tragic Death at Group Gathering

Left inset: Javier Abeyta (Sweetwater County Detention Center). Right inset: Marissa Allen…

Florida Authorities Report Infant Found Unattended on Beach for Over an Hour

Share During a family outing at a Florida beach, two parents were…

Sheriff Reveals Ongoing Dispute Behind Tragic Shooting at South Carolina High School Reunion: 4 Dead, Suspects Still at Large

Authorities now believe they have identified the assailants responsible for the deadly…

Court Hears Police Mistakenly Disposed of Vital Evidence in Manslaughter Case

In an unexpected twist to a negligent manslaughter case, crucial evidence, including…

Newberry Incident: Man Faces Arrest After Allegedly Threatening Utility Workers with Firearm

Staff Report NEWBERRY, Fla. – In a troubling incident that unfolded yesterday,…

Tragic Incident: Toddler Fatally Stabbed While Seated in Shopping Cart

Background: Bionca Ellis appears in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, court on Wednesday, Oct.…

Two Minors, Aged 9 and 10, Face Charges in Disturbing Assault of 5-Year-Old Girl Found Injured in Field

Ohio prosecutors announced on Wednesday that a 10-year-old girl and a 9-year-old…

Police Captain Faces Charges After Alleged Assault Incident: What You Need to Know

Background: News footage of Tuscaloosa Police Captain Kip Hart leaving jail (WBRC).…

ICU Nurse Under Investigation for Disturbing Comments to Police at Hospital

Left inset: Crystal Tadlock (Magnolia Police Department). Right inset: Crystal Tadlock accepting…

Florida Man’s Unbelievable Attempt to Send Family ‘Up to Heaven’ Stuns Community

A 73-year-old man from Florida has been taken into custody following an…

Appeals Court Overturns State AG’s Abortion Stance: What This Means for Reproductive Rights

Background: A Missouri and American flag fly outside Planned Parenthood in St.…

Police Report: Man Allegedly Attempts to Decapitate Mother During Welfare Check

Background: Surveillance footage shows Elizabeth Caruso in a hotel lobby in Miami…