Tracking devices are increasingly used by DV criminals to…

A new report from the state Crime Commission shows one in four people who buy tracking devices in New South Wales have experienced domestic violence in the past.

The study released Tuesday found there has been a “sharp increase” in the use of trackers in recent years, including among organized crime networks to “monitor, locate and ultimately attack their rivals.”

The commission analyzed more than 5,500 tracking devices sold to more than 3,000 customers in 2023. One in four experienced domestic violence and a further 126 were arrested on suspicion of violence when purchasing items.

The commission, which investigates serious criminal activity and has powers to confiscate items, noted that many customers bought the device days after the AVO was enforced.

“Perpetrators of domestic and family violence often use tracking devices and other monitoring tools to stalk, harass, intimidate and monitor victims, sometimes resulting in violence,” the report says.

“One in four people known to have purchased tracking devices since the beginning of 2023 have experienced domestic violence.”

The report calls for tighter control of tracking devices and recommends that their use be included in bail and release conditions to protect victims.

The commission found that some private detectives and specialist spy shops sold surveillance equipment to DV criminals, promoting the fact that their products could be used to monitor intimate partners.

The commission recommended that the government restrict the sale and use of devices without built-in anti-harassment measures.

Between 2010 and 2023, New South Wales Police charged 219 people under the Surveillance Devices Act. About a third of the 438 charges were related to the illegal use of tracking devices.

“Over time, the number of charges brought has generally increased,” the commission said.

“The launch of Apple AirTag in Australia in April 2021 almost certainly contributed to this increase – since then, 14 perpetrators have been charged in connection with the illegal use of AirTags.”

The report details the case of a woman who was harassed by her former partner late last year. According to reports, the man drove by her house several times a day and called her repeatedly.

“When the victim became suspicious that the perpetrator was physically following her, she used an anti-stalking application on her cell phone and found an Apple AirTag attached to her vehicle in a magnetic box,” the report says.

The investigation revealed that 391 customers deemed to be “particularly high risk” were referred to police and other authorities.

Murders, public shootings, kidnappings, drug thefts and human trafficking have been linked to the use of tracking devices by criminal networks.

The Crime Commission report focused primarily on GPS tracking devices designed to monitor the location of vehicles. These devices use global satellite navigation systems.

It used its powers to induce 20 retailers to provide sales figures for 5,663 devices sold to 3,147 customers.

The Commission did not review sales data for Bluetooth tags – such as Apple AirTags, Samsung SmartTags and Tiles – which rely on a mesh network of nearby Bluetooth devices that provide location data.