The location will update whenever there is another iPhone that comes within bluetooth range of your AirPods as long as there is battery power left for communication. All you can do is wait for a location update. Nothing will stop a person from taking your AirPods, but they will still be locked to your iPhone and they will not be able to reset them.
Find your lost AirPods with Find My - Apple Support
You can set contact information to appear when they are found and held up to an iPhone, but be aware that scammers have been known to use this to pretend they are from Apple and send you a link/message that asks for your Apple Account/Password. You would not want to fall for that trick.