‘My Airpods were stolen by a worker at Malaga airport – now I track my thief’s life and daily movements through Find My iPhone but I’m helpless to catch them’ – CSN News

A BRITISH traveller whose carry on bag was stolen in Malaga airport spent over a month tracking the thief using Airpods.

Lauren Morley, 29 years old, has been able to create a detailed picture of the life of her thief by observing his movements. She also noted where he lived and worked.

The account manager has observed the individual go from a residential building in the western suburbs of Malaga to the airport at 6am every day – leading her to conclude that he or she works in the airport.

She has also watched with ‘voyeuristic fascination’ as this person has taken her Airpods on trips into central Malaga – ‘although their life is actually very boring.’

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“I feel like I’m helpless, it’s frustrating,” said the Sheffield native to the Olive Press.

If I were in Malaga, I honestly felt that I would go to the airport to track down this person and tell security where they were and to search them.

“Or, I would do a small stakeout, because I knew the road they lived on. I have narrowed it down to just one or two houses.

“I feel like getting in a plane and flying to that street and then sitting there and tracking and photographing the person who is walking home. 

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Morley suggests that airport thieves target passengers just about to board flights because, once on board, it’s difficult to report a theft. 

Her lack of Spanish has also hindered her efforts to exact punishment on the thief – ‘as soon as I speak English, the police just put the phone down,’ while airport operator Aena has not so far responded to her complaint.

Morley and her boyfriend had taken a weekend trip to Malaga to support their friend in a Hyrox endurance and fitness competition.

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The pair enjoyed a couple of days of ‘flamenco and tapas’ before flying back home on Sunday, March 23 – only for Morley’s hand luggage to go missing in the airport terminal.

“I went through security, and I was at the gates, and my bag was next to me – I don’t really know what happened, to be honest.

As well as the Airpods, the bag contained around €200 in cash, an electric toothbrush, some hair straighteners and some ‘sentimental things from my grandma.’

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“Thank God I had my passport and phone in my coat, otherwise I don’t know what I would do.

“I remember feeling sick all morning, and then, when we were about to board the plane, I asked, Where’s my bag?” I started to panic and everything. 

“Obviously we’re about board. So then I can’t do anything, like go to Lost and Found, I just have get on the airplane and hope that someone will find it and hand it in.”

She checked Find My iPhone at 8am on Monday morning after she returned home and found the headphones in the airport.

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“Me being naive I thought that someone had picked up the bag by mistake and returned it to the airport. 

“I emailed Lost and Found to tell them that my AirPods were back at the airport. Someone must have given them in. 

“And then they got back to me, saying ‘sorry, nothing’s been handed in today.'”

Later that evening, when I checked again, my Airpods had returned to the same address. This pattern has repeated itself all week. 

Now I check in regularly to see what my thief does throughout the day.

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Morley wants to recruit a group of amateur detectives who will act as her eyes, ears and hands in Malaga.

She continued, “It’s only the principle behind it.” 

“If the headphones hadn’t been in the bag or they weren’t being used everyday, I probably wouldn’t have bothered and would be able to move on and close this chapter.

The fact that I’m tracking them is keeping the fire going. 

“I have all the information necessary to capture this person but I am frustrated that I cannot do anything.”

A spokesperson for Aena told the Olive Press that they were unable to assist as it was a ‘police matter’.