St. Charles, Missouri (KTVI) – A stolen motorcycle case took a twist this week when an Apple AirTag led authorities to capture two suspects in the Metro East area.
David A. Hallstead, 37, and Shaun A. Phillips, 32, have been charged with felony vehicle theft by the St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office in connection with the incident.
The alleged theft occurred early Tuesday at an apartment complex in St. Charles, where the duo targeted a sleek 2024 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R motorcycle. According to probable cause statements obtained by Nexstar’s FOX 2, the suspects arrived in a blue Hyundai Santa Fe before Hallstead allegedly disabled the bike’s ignition system using a screwdriver to steal it.
After pilfering the motorcycle, Hallstead rode it to Alton, Illinois, while Phillips trailed in the Hyundai. It was during this ride that Hallstead noticed the AirTag and carelessly discarded it on Annex Drive.
Surveillance footage later became a crucial piece of evidence, revealing the suspects’ arrival at the scene, which allowed police to identify the Hyundai’s license plate. Leveraging both the surveillance video and the AirTag location, authorities tracked the pair to Wood River, Illinois.
In Wood River, police located the stolen motorcycle, still displaying its Missouri registration, and swiftly apprehended Hallstead and Phillips. Both men are currently held in jail with a $30,000 cash-only bond imposed, along with orders to cease all communication with each other, the motorcycle’s owner, and the apartment complex in St. Charles.