Crime blotter: Apple Store thieves face bigger penalties in California

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in iPhone

The state that's been the site of two of the largest Apple Store theft rings in recent years will punish retail theft more severely, while one scammer replaced an iPhone with sugar.

Apple Store in Valencia, Spain
Apple Store in Valencia, Spain



The latest in an occasional AppleInsider series, looking at the world of Apple-related crime.

Prop 36 overwhelmingly passes in California



On Election Day on November 5, voters in California overwhelmingly passed a ballot question called Proposition 36, which will undo some of the provisions of Proposition 47, which passed in 2014 and classified some shoplifting, burglary and drug crimes as misdemeanors rather than felonies.

The new measure passed with more than 70 percent of the vote, per NBC Los Angeles, means that in some cases, those crimes will once again be classified as felonies.

The measure also mandates harsher penalties if three or more people commit a crime together. That was the case in a pair of massive Apple Store theft rings in the state, the first in 2018 and the second in 2023.

Apple Store robbery in Spain



Speaking of Apple Store smash-and-grabs, one such crime was reported in Valencia, Spain, in late October.

According to InSpain News, "masked thieves" struck the store on the morning of October 28, crashing a "high-end vehicle" into the store's window and taking more than 100 Apple devices, mostly iPhones. The thieves, who escaped an Audi and another high-end car, had carried out an "alunizaje," as ram raids are by known in Spain.

It was at least the fourth major theft at that location since 2017.

Scammer accused of replacing iPhone with sugar for fraudulent return



A man in Scotland attempted to carry out a fraud that entailed purchasing an iPhone and returning it. However the fraud involves replacing the device with a similar-weighted item like a bag of sugar, and on other occasions, a fake phone.

TheAlloa Advertiser reports a 24-year-old man admitted to the thefts, which took place over three weeks in late 2022.

Nearly 1,700 iPhones stolen from Connecticut Department of Children and Families



In July, 1,689 iPhones were stolen from a locked room at the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (CDCF). It was a room that only a limited number of staff had access to.

According to Inside Investigator, the stolen iPhones had a value of $87,260. As of the report's publication on November 5, no arrests had been announced in the thefts.

Stolen AirPods lead to arrest in Texas



Two men were arrested in Texas on October 30 after police tracked a bag with stolen AirPods in it, leading them to drugs and a stolen gun.

CBS Austin explains police chased the signal to a vehicle with two men standing nearby, who claimed that they had found the duffle bag on the street. However, a search turned up 19.2 grams of methamphetamine as well as a stolen firearm.

One man was charged with manufacturing and delivering a controlled substance. The other was charged with controlled substance possession, firearm theft, and unlawful weapon carry.

Former Hong Kong cop gets 15 months for iPad theft



A 31-year-old former policeman in Hong Kong has received a 15-month sentence for stealing several items, including an iPad Air and jewelry.

According to South China Morning Post," Hui Ho-shing has admitted to the thefts, out of "greed." He was caught after the owner of the iPad tracked the device to a restaurant.

Hui had also "attempted to decrypt the stolen iPad and searched its contents before discarding the device."

Man accused of stealing iPhone from Cricket store, stuffing it down his pants



An Arizona man reportedly walked into a Cricket store on November 7, took an iPhone 16, and stuffed it down his pants before leaving the store.

In Maricopa writes the theft and pants-stuffing were caught on surveillance video. The man then left the store on a bicycle.

iPhone stolen from constable in India



An iPhone 14 Pro Max belonging to a constable in India was stolen on October 31 by "miscreants," while shopping for flowers, News Karnataka reported.

According to the report, the man was bumped, and at first he thought it was an accident. But five minutes later, he checked and realized his iPhone was missing.

The incident, per the report, has "raised concerns over safety and security in public places during festive seasons.




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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 5
    The change is coming. 
  • Reply 2 of 5
    Interesting that the stories are from all over the world. 
  • Reply 3 of 5
    macguimacgui Posts: 2,469member
    I was sure Prop 36 would pass but didn't expect it to pass with the huge margin it did. The number of CA DAs who said they wouldn't prosecute shoplifters or burglars who stole less than $950 was just too much.

    From the invading hordes of smash and grab thieves. Shoppers in grocery stores walking out with full carts of "free food". Gang bangers killing a couple of young children, being charged with the bare minimum crime. CA residents are fed up and made it known. In the last year DAs of major two major counties have been recalled for being soft on crime. One DA of another major county lost his bid for reelection after expressing desire for a retrial of two convicted brutal murders. Prop 36 isn't a cure-all, not even close. But it should stem a rising tide. 
    netrox
  • Reply 4 of 5
    How about this… for every $950 worth of merch you steal, you get a free year in prison — no exceptions, plea deals, etc. That seems equitable, as prison time is proportionate to the theft amount. It takes care of the one-off theft, and as for those who dare to rip off a company or retailer for hundreds of thousands' worth of merch? Well, talk about a disincentive!
    GrannySmith99
  • Reply 5 of 5
    Interesting that the stories are from all over the world. 
    Yeah, because Apple only sells their products in the country you live in! 
    muthuk_vanalingam
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