However, the company says this is not true, in a statement shared with The Verge Friday afternoon. “Peak Design has not provided customer information to the police and would only do so under the order of a subpoena,” the statement, signed by CEO Peter Dering, said.
“We cannot associate a product serial number with a customer unless that customer has voluntarily registered their product on our site.” The statement further said that the serial numbers on the V1 of the Everyday Backpack “were not unique or identifiable… We did not implement unique serial numbers until the V2 iterations of our Everyday Backpack.”
So, how did we get here?
In the footage of the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, the shooter has a gray backpack with a top flap, which the NYPD believes The same one they recovered in Central Park After a few days. The bag they finally found is brown with black piping and what looks like a brown contrasting tab on the corner of the flap – just like the Peak design. crowdfunded “Everyday” V1 model.
Dering also saw similarities.
He told the new York Times Dering said last week that the item was likely purchased between 2016 and 2019 Times He called the NYPD tip line to share what he knew and vowed to do “everything possible” to identify the shooter, including consulting with Peak Design's legal team that What can he share with the police?
Times The story is only 300 words long, but it appears to have sparked a wave of anger among those sympathetic to suspect Luigi Mangione. despite Times Due to the serial code not being mentioned in the story, the rumor spread like wildfire before the company denied it today.
On the Peak Design subreddit, which is moderated by the brand, positions The company's ability to track customers using serial numbers and tips on bags has been discussed How to delete customer informationThe complaints center primarily on the fact that Dering did not provide any information voluntarily. at all to the police—a Significant change in public attitude Around a murder.
in a follow up email to The Verge, Deering said: “If you choose to register a Peak Design product, and it is lost or stolen, you can reach out to our customer service team and erase your registration, so the bag will never be returned to you.” Can come.”