AirTag Tracks Missing Sign to Opponent’s Home
Candidate claims hidden tracker led to stolen campaign sign at opponent’s home.
2 min read
A school board candidate in Orange County, California, claims an Apple AirTag hidden on a campaign sign led to the discovery of the missing sign at the home of his Democrat-backed opponent. Marco Carralero, running for a seat on the Capistrano Unified School District board, reported that one of his yard signs was stolen last Tuesday. The AirTag, which he had placed on the sign to track its location, showed the sign was at an address listed as the home of Melissa Caldwell, his opponent.
Claim and Investigation
Carralero filed a police report and tagged Caldwell in a Facebook post, asking her to explain the situation. He stated, “What’s going on here? Can you clarify why my campaign sign wound up at your home?” Carralero explained that he started using AirTags after repeatedly finding his signs kicked over, defaced, or missing entirely. However, he admitted he was unsure if Caldwell took the sign herself or if someone close to her was responsible.
Potential Legal Consequences
If proven in court, the alleged theft could result in a fine of up to $1,000 and up to six months in county jail. Carralero included screenshots, timestamps, and other records in his police report, but as of Sunday, there had been no official investigation into Caldwell. The Daily Wire reached out to Caldwell’s campaign but has not received a response.
Political Context and History
While school board candidates in California run as nonpartisan, prominent Democrat political action committees, such as Women for American Values and Ethics, have supported Caldwell. The PAC also backs other Democratic candidates, including Reps. Mike Levin and Dave Min. Caldwell is also receiving financial support from the district’s local teachers union.
This is not the first time Orange County has experienced a sign-stealing incident. In 2024, Orange Unified School District Trustee Madison Miner used digital trackers on “No on the Recall” signs during a Democrat-led campaign to remove her from the board. The trackers led to the recovery of dozens of stolen signs, including several for Republican candidates. Miner made citizen’s arrests of three individuals in front of officers.
Source: Daily Wire
