Apple announced Thursday it is making security updates to its AirTags after reports that the tracking devices were used in crimes.

The tech giant markets the small, $29 devices as a way to keep tabs on items such as keys, wallets, purses and backpacks. The AirTags, which hit the market last April, use Bluetooth technology to send a signal to any nearby iPhone, iPad or Mac, allowing people who misplace an item to track it down using the Find My app.

However, some people have reported receiving a distressing notification on their devices saying: “AirTag Found Moving With You. The location of this AirTag can be seen by the owner.”

Police in Colorado, Georgia, Michigan and Texas have reported that AirTags, which are slightly larger than a quarter, have been used in stalking and car theft cases, generally by attaching them to victims’ cars. And Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Brooks Nader says someone slipped an AirTag in her coat at a New York City bar and tracked her movement for several hours before she discovered what had happened.

Apple said Thursday it has been working with law enforcement agencies on all AirTag-related requests and has helped police make arrests by providing AirTag serial numbers and their linked Apple accounts.

“(W)e condemn in the strongest possible terms any malicious use of our products,” the company said in a statement. “Unwanted tracking has long been a societal problem, and we took this concern seriously in the design of AirTag.”

Apple said it created the devices with security in mind, which is why it alerts people about unwanted tracking.

The company said it believes, in part based on discussions with law enforcement, that AirTag misuses are rare. Some alerts about tracking have innocuous explanations, such as the person borrowed someone’s keys with an AirTag attached or a family member left their AirPods in their car, which can trigger the same alert. 

But Apple says it views each instance of misuse as “one too many.” 

The company said, after an upcoming software update, users setting up their AirTags will see a message stating that using the device to track people without their consent is a crime and that Apple may turn over identifying information to police to assist in criminal investigations. 

Apple also is changing the wording of the alerts so that some people are not left needlessly panicked. Instead of receiving a message about an “Unknown Accessory Detected,” the notifications will refer to AirTags and AirPods by name.

And later this year, Apple plans to introduce “Precision Finding” to help people locate AirTags more easily. Some people have reported conducting unsuccessful sweeps of their cars in search of the devices after receiving alerts. 

The tech titan also says it is updating its unwanted tracking alert system to notify people sooner and that AirTags will emit a sound simultaneously with alerts, making them easier to find.  

In December, Apple released an app called “Tracker Detect” to help people with Android-based phones identify unexpected AirTags.