Thefts at Apple retail stores on the rise, two reported this month

2»

Comments

  • Reply 21 of 40
    nvidia2008nvidia2008 Posts: 9,262member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by jennyg View Post


    What gets me about the U. Village robbery (I was just reading the story at http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/328555_apple22.html ): The thieves cut through the ceiling into the technicians' room and took the computers that were done with servicing. Kind of implies that whoever did this A: knew the layout of the store and B: knew which computers were easiest to lift / worth grabbing.

    Without speculating overmuch, I'll at least say this: ...interesting.



    Yes, last night I was in the ceiling (the real one above the false ceiling) of my Apple shop (running a LAN cable... don't ask...) and definitely there are a lot of naughty things you can do up there. But you are right, you have to know where the hell you are if you are moving around up there and are cutting delicately through the false ceiling to get to the storeroom goodies.



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Gator View Post


    Wonder if Apple will indemnify the owners whose computers were stolen, that is, replace them with like models? Unless there's a sign posted saying "Not responsible for lost or stolen items," I'd imagine they will; after all, that's why stores carry insurance. Afterthought: Surely Apple has a way to identify the machine should it ever request a periodic software update, or if the machine has to be serviced. Forensic sleths should soon be all over this case.



    That should be "sleuths".



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by solipsism View Post


    I think it's a good sign that directly relates to the popularity of Apple products. The typical shoplifter isn't going to be so elaborate in their efforts. Many of these stories are thought out planned attacks against the retailer. I'm glad I bought stock at $115. I see nothing but good things in Apple's future.



    Totally, I hear next door to the "burgalariz-ed" Apple Store there was actually a diamond shop with Japanese-style paper walls and guarded only by a 24-carat Tickle-Me-Elmo.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 22 of 40
    nvidia2008nvidia2008 Posts: 9,262member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by bobmarksdale View Post


    wow, 2 thefts in a month with ~180 stores... That means that... add 7, carry the 4... they are experiencing a heck of a lot lower theft rate than the majority of retail chains. Granted the value of the merchandise is a lot more, but still, 2 isn't all that many.



    Source
    : 1.6% of value of retail sales lost in 'retail shrinkage' in 2005. Surely higher now. Assuming that only about .5% is from theft, Apple sold roughly $3.36 billion in the retail sector in 2006, divided by 12 to get monthly average is: ~$280 million. .5% of 280 million=~$1.4 million that would be from theft if this were average. $17,000 from one theft and an unknown amount from another gives us much less than 5% (probably 2 or less) of average. So, what have we learned from this? Aside from absolutely nothing, we learned that this isn't all that much.



    Several weeks ago I was researching Sensormatic and Checkpoint systems (those beepy things at the entrance of retail shops) ... It's so funny how the new hip term in the retail management world for "shoplifting" and pretty much "STEALING" is now "shrinkage". The only shrinkage I used to worry about is when I come out of a cold swimming pool.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 23 of 40
    nvidia2008nvidia2008 Posts: 9,262member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by nvidia2008 View Post


    Yes, last night I was in the ceiling (the real one above the false ceiling) of my Apple shop (running a LAN cable... don't ask...) and definitely there are a lot of naughty things you can do up there. But you are right, you have to know where the hell you are if you are moving around up there and are cutting delicately through the false ceiling to get to the storeroom goodies...



    Also, honestly, it is really cool up there, much more interesting than the cliched Hollywood "ventilation duct" scenes, or the recent obsession with http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_running in movie scenes. Up there between the real ceiling and false ceilings of shopping malls, offices, etc, it's more a lateral rockclimbing-esque thing to move about. Also avoiding a mess of cables, lights, high voltage electricity.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 24 of 40
    nvidia2008nvidia2008 Posts: 9,262member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by AppleInsider View Post


    Yet another Apple Store has been burglarized, this time at University Village in Seattle, Washington, where thieves appear to have entered the store through the ceiling and made off with a slew of customer laptops that had been dropped off for servicing.



    A store employee claims that at least one of the notebooks contained personal information, and that the theft could pose a risk to other customers. Additionally, an "unknown stock" of refurbished iPhones turned up missing alongside a high-end laptop used by the store's technical staff.



    Seattle police were reportedly called to the University Village store at 4:44 a.m. Monday morning after an alarm signaled rear entry or motion...



    Earlier this year, Apple's Twenty Ninth Street store in Colorado was forced to modified one of its display cases by securing the 30-pound container to the table upon which it rested. The changes came about after thieves boldly stole a 2 x 2 x 6-foot display case containing 42 4GB iPod nanos worth around $8,450. Amazingly, notes MacNN, the store employees said they noticed the case missing at around 5:00 p.m. which suggests that the theft may have occurred in broad daylight...



    What is interesting is that there is no outright mention of in-store security camera footage. You would imagine that would be the first place to look for signs of WHAT THE HELL ACTUALLY HAPPENED
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 25 of 40
    nvidia2008nvidia2008 Posts: 9,262member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by trevorlsciact View Post


    Don't virtually all computer contain "personal information"



    Heh.



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by AppleInsider View Post


    ...A store employee claims that at least one of the notebooks contained personal information, and that the theft could pose a risk to other customers...



    In other news, police officers claim that many stolen wallets contain personal information and that those thefts pose risks to everyone.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 26 of 40
    shaun, ukshaun, uk Posts: 1,050member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by jbcaro View Post


    Excuse me, pardon me, nothing to see here, please move along and ignore the large persons hauling the display case out of the store.







    Can you imagine the report the store manager had to file to Apple HQ and the reply. They stole what!!!!!!!
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 27 of 40
    nvidia2008nvidia2008 Posts: 9,262member
    Heh.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 28 of 40
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by nvidia2008 View Post


    The only shrinkage I used to worry about is when I come out of a cold swimming pool.



    So many posts, so little to say.



    Yeah, we've all seen Seinfeld.



     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 29 of 40
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by trevorlsciact View Post


    Don't virtually all computer contain "personal information"



    Well on the PC side its pretty common practice to yank the HD before sending it in to get serviced. I realize this isn't really a consumer level move on most Macs, but its something that Apple should definitely address with added security.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 30 of 40
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by team23 View Post


    Well on the PC side its pretty common practice to yank the HD before sending it in to get serviced. I realize this isn't really a consumer level move on most Macs, but its something that Apple should definitely address with added security.



    unless the HD is (possibly) part of the problem. But yeah, they should surround all future stores' walls with steel plating and but multiple steel grates in the air ducts, and retina, voice, and fingerprint locks in combination on all of the back rooms... Ok, maybe not THAT much security, as it would be excessive and a waste of money, but definitely need better considering the value of the goods in question.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 31 of 40
    nvidia2008nvidia2008 Posts: 9,262member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by britwithgoodteeth View Post


    Yeah, we've all seen Seinfeld.





    Yes, my comment was a homage to Seinfeld in its own way.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 32 of 40
    nvidia2008nvidia2008 Posts: 9,262member
    (retracted my nasty comments. not worth it...)
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 33 of 40
    nvidia2008nvidia2008 Posts: 9,262member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by britwithgoodteeth View Post


    So many posts...



    Well, that's the way I roll sometimes.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 34 of 40
    nvidia2008nvidia2008 Posts: 9,262member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by bobmarksdale View Post


    unless the HD is (possibly) part of the problem. But yeah, they should surround all future stores' walls with steel plating and but multiple steel grates in the air ducts, and retina, voice, and fingerprint locks in combination on all of the back rooms... Ok, maybe not THAT much security, as it would be excessive and a waste of money, but definitely need better considering the value of the goods in question.



    Basically I guess the issue is maybe considering placing a hard grill over the top of the area so that people can't cut in through the false ceiling. Or have a "cage" of sorts for equipment left overnight?
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 35 of 40
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by ChevalierMalFet View Post


    Same in the US. It's considered "receiving stolen goods." Of all the items to steal, however, it strikes me that the iPhones are probably the dumbest of thefts, as the device is by definition required to connect to the network for use, and could quite easily not only be identified but located.



    This actually is not true unless you knew that the goods you are/were receiving were stolen. If you did not know, I don't think Apple can take any action against you, and upon finding out you were sold stolen goods, you can take action to recover damages from the original seller.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 36 of 40
    solipsismsolipsism Posts: 25,726member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by ssc_applefan View Post


    This actually is not true unless you knew that the goods you are/were receiving were stolen. If you did not know, I don't think Apple can take any action against you, and upon finding out you were sold stolen goods, you can take action to recover damages from the original seller.



    It depends on the circumstances. If you buy an iPhone from the back of a guy's van you don't know if it stolen or not, but the situation is questionable and you can be held liable; but if you purchased it from a pawn shop you would probably be in the clear as the pawn shop has the responsibility to verify if good are stolen or not. Things like eBay and Craig's List are difficult to verify adn usually skate under the law.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 37 of 40
    cosmonutcosmonut Posts: 4,872member
    Move along. Nothing to see here.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 38 of 40
    Greenville, SC had 4 break ins of AT&T stores on March 11 and 12th, 2010.

    Lots of phones and at least one laptop stolen. office was broken into.

    Three men broke the glass door or used a crow bar to gain entry.

    I'm thinking these and those in other cities are all connected some how.

    Maybe for export to another country?
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 39 of 40
    addaboxaddabox Posts: 12,665member
    Since the thefts in those other cities were two and a half years ago, probably not.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 40 of 40
    aizmovaizmov Posts: 989member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by altruisticbeings View Post


    that's one way to get your Apple products.



    thieves should have their hands cut off and inserted into their own colon... repeatedly.



    ditto
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
Sign In or Register to comment.