Car-theft scam using hidden trackers / Car Theft Prevention in Costa Rica: How to Detect Hidden Trackers on Your Vehicle (AirTags, SmartTags, GPS trackers)
- Car HuntersCR
- Nov 4
- 4 min read
Vehicle security is a priority for many expats, property owners, and long-term residents in Costa Rica. Recently, new methods of car theft prevention in Costa Rica have become more important as criminals are now using small tracking devices such as AirTags, Samsung SmartTags, and GPS vehicle trackers to monitor and target cars. These devices are often secretly placed on or inside a vehicle while it’s parked in parking lots, gas stations, or shopping centers, allowing thieves to track where you live, where the vehicle is stored, or to identify vulnerable moments on the road. This guide explains how these trackers work, how smartphones can alert you when one is detected, and practical steps for vehicle safety and theft prevention, especially if your car is stored, transported, or managed by a trusted third party like CarHuntersCR.
How the scam works
Thieves attach a small tracker to the outside (under bumpers, wheel wells, behind license plates) or inside (under seats, in door panels, glove box).
The device transmits location data to the thief’s phone or tracking account.
Over time they map out routines and locations (home address, storage location, times the car is left unattended).
They use that information to break in, tow, steal the car, or perform highway robberies (“bajonazo”).
Devices to watch for
Apple AirTag (or other similar Bluetooth trackers)
Samsung SmartTag / SmartTag+
Standalone GPS tracker devices (may use cellular data)
Any small, unfamiliar Bluetooth/GPS device attached to or inside the vehicle
Important — if your car is stored or kept by a third party (example: CarHuntersCR)
If your vehicle is being stored, parked, or held by a third-party service (for example a car storage, broker, or concierge like CarHuntersCR), always tell them if the vehicle has one of this devices that belongs to you and ask them to scan for hidden trackers before they move or deliver the car. Reputable services often:
Use tracker-detection equipment and routine scans to check vehicles before delivery,
Will alert you immediately if they find an unknown device, and
Have protocols (contacting police, disabling/removing the device, changing delivery plans) to keep you and the vehicle safe. Notifying the storage/concierge team gives them the chance to detect a tracker early and to act to protect you
Many modern smartphones can detect unknown tracking devices such as Apple AirTags, Samsung SmartTags, Tile, or other Bluetooth-based GPS trackers.
On iPhones (iOS), the system automatically alerts you with a message like “Item Found Moving With You” and you can scan for and play a sound on the device in the Find My app. On Android, you can use Tracker Detect (Apple), Google’s Unknown Tracker Alerts, or Samsung SmartThings Find (on Galaxy phones) to scan for unknown tags nearby.
These apps show whether a tag is moving with you and help you locate it.
Note that some professional GPS trackers (LandAirSea, Vyncs, Spytec, etc.) may not alert via Bluetooth and require a manual vehicle inspection or specialized detection tools.
Quick how-to (phone + app):
iPhone (iOS): keep iOS updated; watch for automatic “Unknown Accessory/Item Found Moving With You” alerts and open Find My → Items to locate or play a sound. You can also scan for nearby items in Find My.
Android (Google Play compatible): install Tracker Detect (Apple) or rely on Android’s built-in unknown-tracker alerts (if available); open the app and run a scan for nearby Find-My-network tags.
Samsung (Galaxy): use SmartThings / SmartThings Find to enable unknown-tag alerts and run “Search for unknown tags” to scan for SmartTags/AirTags. SmartTag+ adds UWB-assisted precise finding on supported phones.
What you should do
If you have one of this devices in your car, let the storage agent know.
Regularly inspect your car’s exterior and interior (under bumpers, wheel wells, under seats, behind trim).
Pay attention to phone alerts (iPhones: “Item Found Moving With You” / “Unknown Accessory Detected”).
Android users: install a trusted Bluetooth/GPS tracker-detection app and scan frequently.
If your car is stored with a third party: tell them to scan for trackers before any movement or delivery.
Park in secured, well-lit, or CCTV-covered areas when possible; use a garage if you have one.
If you find a tracker: photograph it, note its location, contact the storage provider (if applicable), and call the police. Avoid touching the device more than necessary.
Consider additional anti-theft measures (visible steering-wheel lock, professional GPS recovery system tied to your account).
At CarHuntersCR, our purpose in sharing this information is not to create fear, but to inform and protect. We work daily with expats, property owners, and long-term residents who trust us to keep their vehicles safe, inspected, and properly stored. We share these updates because we believe in looking out for each other, staying transparent, and preventing situations that could compromise your peace of mind, mobility, or safety. If at any point you have questions, concerns, or simply want your vehicle checked as a precaution, we are here to help — with trust, discretion, and real commitment.
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