Two suspects have been charged with attacking and robbing a Red Line passenger in Chicago, thanks to the city’s surveillance camera network and location data from an AirTag. Christopher Owens, 19, and Claude Elder, 44, were quickly located by police less than an hour after the crime due to this technology, both with extensive criminal records.

The victim, a 20-year-old DoorDash delivery driver, was on his way downtown with his electric bike when Owens and Elder approached him between Sox-35th and Cermak-Chinatown. Despite the victim’s attempts to avoid conflict, Owens punched him in the face and displayed a knife while Elder put him in a chokehold and stole his electric bike. The suspects then boarded a southbound train with the bike, leaving the victim to report the robbery to police at Roosevelt station.

Fortunately, the victim had placed an AirTag on his bike, allowing a friend to track its location in real-time and provide this information to the police. Officers were able to locate Elder and Owens at a motel on South Cottage Grove, where they were attempting to enter a room with the stolen bike.

Both suspects have a history of criminal activity, with Elder having eight previous felony convictions and Owens with an extensive juvenile record. Despite being on pretrial release for a separate juvenile case, Owens now faces charges of aggravated robbery and aggravated battery of a transit passenger.

This quick resolution of the case highlights the importance of technology in crime prevention and investigation. The victim’s proactive use of an AirTag ultimately led to the apprehension of the suspects, ensuring that justice is served.