Connecticut Criminal Lawyer Blog
Using a Tracker to Shadow Someone
AirTags and other trackers are great for finding lost keys—but when they’re used to keep tabs on a partner or ex, police in Connecticut treat that as stalking by electronics. In plain English: if you plant a tracker or use a tracking app to watch where someone goes with the intent to harass or intimidate, and the conduct causes fear of serious harm or substantial emotional distress, prosecutors can charge Electronic Stalking (C.G.S. § 53a-181f). In domestic violence cases, if there’s a criminal protective order or no-contact order in place, you often see a second felony for Criminal Violation of a Protective Order (C.G.S. § 53a-223).
What the law is getting at
C.G.S. § 53a-181f focuses on two things: intent and impact. The State looks for proof that tracking was done on purpose to harass or intimidate, and that it placed someone in reasonable fear of death or serious bodily injury or would reasonably be expected to cause substantial emotional distress. In break-ups and custody disputes, text threads, DMs, and repeated “pop-ups” near the person often paint a pattern that leads to quick arrests.
The “tech will tell on you” problem (how this backfires)
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iPhones alert the target. Unknown AirTags move with a person trigger on-screen alerts, and can guide them to the tag.
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Android alerts too. Modern Android phones detect unknown trackers and help locate them.
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AirTags can chime. Separated tags may emit a sound after moving.
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There’s a forensic trail. AirTags have serial numbers tied to an Apple ID; the Find My network logs interactions. Purchase emails and account data are traceable.
Bottom line: planting a tag almost always creates evidence against the person who planted it.
Common real-world setups police charge
A tag tucked in a wheel well or trunk liner; a tracker slipped into a purse or backpack; a “Find My” or third-party app quietly left active on a shared Apple/Google account after the breakup; or “we share the car” rationalizations that prosecutors see as surveillance meant to intimidate.
Penalties and fallout
Electronic Stalking is a Class D felony. Protective order violations are Class D or Class C felonies (more serious when threats/violence/restraint are involved). Expect bond action, tighter release terms (no-tech conditions, GPS, curfews), device/account searches, and collateral issues for immigration and professional licenses.
What the State must prove
That you used a device or electronic system (AirTag, GPS, tracking app) on purpose to place someone under surveillance or as part of a course of conduct, and that it caused fear of serious harm or would reasonably be expected to cause substantial emotional distress to that person (or close family/partners).
Defenses & pressure points that matter
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Intent: locating property vs. intimidating a person.
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Attribution: who actually placed the device or enabled the app.
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Impact: fear of serious harm vs. ordinary annoyance.
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Order scope (if § 53a-223 is charged): what the order actually said; any written carve-outs.
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Account history: old family-sharing/password habits can create doubt about who initiated tracking.
If you discover a tracker on you
Photograph it in place, capture serial numbers and app alerts, and save messages that show fear or attempts to intimidate. Talk to counsel about reporting and safe removal. Avoid confrontation or social-media posts. Do not destroy the device—you may need that proof.
If police contact you—or you’re arrested
Say you want a lawyer and stop talking. Don’t consent to phone/account searches until you’ve gotten advice. Start collecting receipts, account emails, sharing settings, and location-sharing logs—these details often decide the case. If a protective order exists, we move fast to tighten compliance while we build the defense.
Other Trackers Prosecutors See (not just AirTags)
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Bluetooth tags: Tile, Samsung SmartTag, and similar “finders.” Some trigger cross-platform alerts—others don’t—so people think they’re invisible when they’re not.
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Standalone GPS units: Small magnetic pucks that report live location over cellular; often stuck under bumpers, behind plates, or in wheel wells.
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OBD-II plug-ins: Trackers that plug into the diagnostic port and transmit movement/route data.
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Hard-wired trackers: Hidden behind trim and powered off the vehicle battery for long-term monitoring.
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Account-based tracking: Life360, Google/Apple location sharing, Snap Map, “Find My Friends,” shared Apple/Google accounts left on after the breakup.
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Built-in telematics: Manufacturer apps (“locate my vehicle,” remote start) that an ex still controls because the login was never revoked.
Key point: Even if you own the device or co-own the car, using tech to monitor a person (not just property) in a way that causes fear or substantial emotional distress is what gets charged.
Where People Hide Trackers (what we check first)
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Vehicles: Under bumper covers, inside fender liners, behind license plates, spare-tire well, under seats, cargo pockets, wheel-well felt, and near the OBD-II port.
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Personal items: Purse, diaper bag, gym bag, stroller, child’s backpack, laptop sleeve.
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Shared tech: Old iPads, family iCloud/Google accounts, “trusted devices,” and car infotainment systems that still have someone else’s account logged in.
FAQs
Can I install a GPS in a car I co-own?
Maybe—but using it to monitor a person (not just the car) in a way that causes fear or substantial emotional distress can still be criminal under § 53a-181f.
Can I use a diversionary program if I am a first-time offender?
Yes, suppose it is a non-domestic violence case (for example, tracking your co-worker or neighbor). In that case, you can use the Accelerated Rehabilitation Program AR and if it is a domestic violence case, you can use the Family Violence Education Program FVEP.
What about tracking my teen driver?
Parental tracking for safety is generally lawful, but it can’t be used to intimidate an abused partner or to violate court orders.
Is a one-time location ping a crime?
The statute targets intent and impact, often shown through a course of conduct. One serious incident can matter, but patterns are what prosecutors love.
If the tracker never alerted, is it still illegal?
Yes. The question is intent + reasonable fear or substantial distress, not whether a phone displayed a notification.
What if the device was inactive or dead?
We examine whether it actually reported the location and who had access. A dead/inactive unit can undercut intent or impact—but it won’t fix a clear pattern of intimidation.
Need help now?
Charged—or worried you’re under investigation—for electronic stalking or a protective-order violation in Connecticut? I handle these cases every week. We’ll secure the evidence, shut down risky tech, and build a defense that focuses on intent, attribution, and impact.
Contact Attorney Allan F. Friedman at Allan F. Friedman Criminal Lawyer—call (203) 357-5555 or reach me through the [Contact Page] for a fast, confidential strategy session. One smart call now can prevent months of damage.
