Police in San Francisco are still looking for a suspect who used a self-driving car to commit a theft last January. The incident involved a Waymo vehicle, which the suspect allegedly used to transport stolen yoga clothes from a local studio. Security footage described by the outlet shows the suspect entering the robotaxi, leaving the studio empty-handed, and then exiting via the same vehicle. Authorities say the suspect remains at large despite efforts to track them down.
Waymo provided police with the suspect’s account information, but investigators say it didn’t lead to a useful lead. The company’s vehicles are designed to record all footage, but officials say the internal video from the ride was no longer available when detectives filed a search warrant in April. The footage was reportedly deleted, raising questions about how long Waymo retains data from its autonomous vehicles.
Related: Lego unveils 12 Smart Play Pokémon sets
Exterior camera footage from the vehicle was also unhelpful. Police say the images were blurred for privacy reasons, making it impossible to identify the suspect. This situation highlights a gap in surveillance capabilities, even as autonomous vehicles become more common. Some privacy advocates see this as a positive development, though questions remain about the company’s data policies.
Waymo has not yet responded to requests for clarification on its data retention practices. The company’s website notes that it complies with legal requirements, but specifics about how long footage is stored are unclear. Reporters reached out for details, but no official statement has been released.
Related: Wired internet options beyond cable
This isn’t the first time a Waymo vehicle has been linked to criminal activity. In a separate case, a suspect used one of the company’s cars as a getaway vehicle after robbing a grocery store. That individual was quickly caught, but the January yoga studio theft remains unsolved. Both incidents highlight the challenges of tracking crimes involving autonomous vehicles.
Police say the lack of usable footage complicates their investigation. While Waymo’s vehicles are equipped with cameras, the company’s data policies appear to limit how long that information is accessible. Officials say they’re working with the company to determine if more data can be recovered, but so far no progress has been made.
The case has sparked discussions about the balance between privacy and public safety. Critics argue that retaining more footage could help solve crimes, while supporters of privacy laws say blurring and deletion are necessary to protect individuals. The debate is unlikely to be resolved anytime soon, especially with no clear answers from the company.
The suspect remains unidentified. Authorities say they’re continuing their search, but the lack of usable evidence from the vehicle has made the case particularly difficult. The incident serves as a reminder of the complexities that come with integrating autonomous technology into everyday life.
