Can Bluetooth trackers really track stolen items in real time?

No. Every product in this category is a Bluetooth beacon, not a GPS device. Location updates only when the tag passes within Bluetooth range of a phone on the same finder network (Apple Find My, Tile, or Google Find My Device). Reviewers across the boards we read emphasize this: trackers are great for misplaced keys, luggage on a connecting flight, or a backpack left at a restaurant; they are unreliable for real-time vehicle tracking or recovering items moved quickly by a thief.