Fort Myers man accused of tracking ex-wife with Apple AirTag

FORT MYERS, Fla. —

What many residents in Fort Myers see as a helpful tool for keeping track of keys, wallets and even children’s backpacks is now at the center of a criminal case involving alleged stalking.

Fort Myers police say a man was arrested on Thursday after detectives discovered an Apple AirTag hidden inside his ex-wife’s vehicle.

The said officers recovered the small tracking device during an investigation and arrested Nicholas Brezina on Thursday near Page Field. He has been charged with installing a tracking device without consent.

Police have not released additional details about how long the device was allegedly in the vehicle.

AirTags are designed to help people locate lost personal items by connecting to Apple’s network of devices. Many residents say they use them responsibly.

Nicholas Rogers, a Fort Myers resident, said his family keeps one in his child’s backpack for peace of mind.

“For kids especially, we use it just to make sure everything’s ok,” Rogers said, describing it as a tool meant for personal belongings and safety.

Others say using the device to secretly track someone crosses a line.

“That’s terrible, awful. You shouldn’t be tracking anyone,” said Patty Ciullo, also of Fort Myers.

Cybersecurity experts say consumers should understand the safeguards built into modern smartphones. Evan Lutz, a cybersecurity engineer in nearby San Carlos Park, said recent iOS updates can alert users if an unknown AirTag is traveling with them over time.

“The newest iOS update actually has a feature built into it to where it’ll notify you if it sees an AirTag that is moving with you for several days at a time,” Lutz said.

Apple has also implemented audible alerts that cause AirTags separated from their owners to emit a sound after a period of time.

Police urge anyone who believes they are being tracked without consent to contact law enforcement and to pay attention to smartphone alerts that could signal an unknown tracking device nearby.

The case highlights growing concerns nationwide about the misuse of small tracking devices intended for convenience but capable of enabling surveillance when used improperly.

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