Wife Urged to Check for Tracking Devices After Man Aims to Surveil Daughter

The internet has urged a woman to check for tracking devices after her husband had plans to place one on his daughter's car.

Published on Reddit's controversial r/AmITheA**hole forum, a woman under the anonymous username u/Throwaway3490771 shared her story for feedback from the "AITA" community. The viral post has over 8,000 upvotes and 1,000 comments.

The original poster (OP) began her story by explaining that her husband and his daughter "Christine" from a previous marriage don't get along very well. The OP described her husband as "incredibly overprotective" of Christine and has done things in the past to harm their relationship. She explained that her husband caused Christine to break up with her boyfriend after he was diagnosed with "multiple health conditions."

However, he wanted to do something nice for his daughter to try to mend the relationship by purchasing her a car for her 18th birthday. He has a goal to get her to trust him once again.

She explained how the conflict came about: "2 days ago, I overheard him speaking with a friend of his about installing a tracking device in the new car. I was stunned. I brought up with him later at night and told him how wrong this was. He said it was none of [my] business but I told him that if and when [Christine] finds out then there's gonna be troubles. He got upset and went on about how he's just doing this out of concern and protection [for] her and said it was none of my business whatsoever since I didn't buy the car."

"I called him unreasonable and said that if he don't back off then I'll tell her at the party and when [he] hands her the key. He was shocked at this, he called me crazy and said that I shouldn't have been snooping and listening to his private talks in the first place. I said I'd tell her but he told me to stay out of it since it's his daughter not mine and that if I wanted to parent my way then I was free to have my own children. This stung because he knows I can't have kids due to infertility problems," she continued.

As they kept arguing, she told him she would still tell Christine about his plan and he called her "unhinged" and told her she had no say in the matter. She consulted with her mother, and she agreed that it was "none of her business," as it would only start drama.

Newsweek has reached out to u/Throwaway3490771 for comment.

Newsweek has published several articles regarding conflicts in marriages, including a woman who was told to dump her husband after overhearing him and her mother-in-law on vacation, a "childish" man who was bashed for faking an injury so his partner would leave their brother's wedding, and a mom who was cheered for refusing to watch her stepchildren so her husband's ex could attend a wedding.

How to detect a tracking device on your vehicle

If you believe that someone is tracking your car without permission, lifewire.com has tips on where to look for a potential tracking device:

• Search the exterior of the car: Using a flashlight and a mirror, check the space where the wheels are positioned, also called the wheel wells, and underneath the car. Usually, tracking devices are placed in easy-to-reach locations.
• Search inside the car: First, check the data port, which has all the information about your car. Most tracking devices are small, dirty and can be difficult to see.
• Purchase a bug detector: Bug detectors can help locate a tracking device. However, this tool may not work, as some trackers only work when the car is in motion.
• Get help from a professional: If you are unsuccessful in finding a tracking device but are still suspicious, people that have experience with automotive electronics, car audio and alarms may be able to help.

Redditor reactions

U/Britsgirl30 urged the OP, receiving the top comment with over 19,000 upvotes, "[Not the a**hole] CHECK YOUR CAR AND DEVICES FOR TRACKERS/SPYWARE! If he's doing it to her on the sly he may have/probably has done the same to you. It's insanely creepy, violating and even more concerning is his 'keep your mouth shut' type reaction. Don't walk. Run. Preferably leave before telling your step daughter everything (don't do it at the party) and making sure she knows you're there for her. he actually brought up your infertility issues to win this 'argument'?! RUN!!!"

"[Not the a**hole]. Have you checked your car for tracking devices? If he's willing to do it to his daughter, he's willing to do it to you too. Also, check your phone for any apps you don't recognize," u/sysadrift wrote.

"If he is willing to hide a tracking device and justify it as "protectiveness* over his daughter... what tracking devices and/or recording devices does he have on you? Draw a hard boundary. He is purposefully violating his own daughters privacy (in a very illegal way) and trying to gaslight the situation to make you seem like the bad one for finding out his terrible action/crime. I would reconsider my marriage to a man like this and also do a sweep of my own things to ensure he hasn't been tracking or recording me against my will without my knowledge," u/Basic-Elderberry-744 explained.

"[Not the a**hole] Your husband is much worse than an a**hole. You need to tell your stepdaughter. But you also need to reconsider your marriage, this is horrifying. And his reaction to you calling him out on it has so many additional red flags in it, please be careful," u/Tricky-Flamingo-7491 warned.