Robbers target two San Diego Apple stores, make off with iPhones and Macs

Posted:
in General Discussion edited April 2017
Three men brandishing knives robbed two San Diego Apple stores within the space of an hour on Friday, and the small gang is still on the loose with an unknown amount of merchandise.


Apple store UTC


According to a developing report from a local ABC News affiliate, thieves targeted two mall outlets in San Diego just before noon.

Apple's store at the Westfield UTC mall was hit at around 11 a.m. Pacific, while a second incident was reported ten miles away at the Fashion Valley mall outlet just 30 minutes later.

The San Diego Police Department noted suspect descriptions for both incidents match, suggesting the same cadre of thieves was involved in both robberies.

Suspects were armed with knives when they entered Apple's store, but did not threaten store employees or customers, police said. It is possible that the weapons were used to cut through security cables Apple deploys on certain display items.

The thieves made off with an unspecified amount of merchandise, concentrating on iPhones and Macs, police said.

Apple stores are often a prime target for thieves, as each location lays out an array of expensive electronic devices on easily accessible display tables. Though most burglaries take place at night in smash-and-grab operations, some bold robbers flee with goods during business hours when stores are busy.

Today's incidents are the second and third Apple store heists this week, coming two days after burglars stole $24,000 worth of goods from Apple's Corte Madera, Calif., location.
kspt02
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 30
    What are they doing with these devices?  

    Selling them to naive folks that then get busted when they try to activate them?

    Unless they are being sold for parts, someone will eventually get busted when they try to go on line with these. 
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 2 of 30
    boltsfan17boltsfan17 Posts: 2,294member
    Hearing this story on local radio, these 3 apparently stole about a dozen iPhone's and 4 Mac's. They have a lot of guts going into Fashion Valley to rob a store since that's a super busy mall. 
  • Reply 3 of 30
    boltsfan17boltsfan17 Posts: 2,294member
    What are they doing with these devices?  

    Selling them to naive folks that then get busted when they try to activate them?

    Unless they are being sold for parts, someone will eventually get busted when they try to go on line with these. 
    They can sell them for parts or sell the phones on Craigslist. Ebay is too risky since they need a form of a payment such as a bank account or credit card to sell. If someone bought one of these stolen phones, they obviously would get their money back through Ebay since it would be fraud. 
  • Reply 4 of 30
    SpamSandwichSpamSandwich Posts: 33,407member
    Apple is going to have to hire armed security guards in high crime areas soon. The stores are like a candy store for these thieves otherwise and since Apple makes the most per square foot of any retail space in the world, they need to protect the products, workers and customers.
    edited April 2017
  • Reply 5 of 30
    akamine_jrakamine_jr Posts: 11unconfirmed, member
    Well, this show how Apple products are as worth as commodities.
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 6 of 30
    I wish we did have security. It is frustrating  to have the same people come back often enough that you know their names.
  • Reply 7 of 30
    bluefire1bluefire1 Posts: 1,301member
    Hire one or more security guards like many other stores do, and have all client service workers have an option on their iPhones to set off a loud in store alarm system or have it silently alert security in the mall. 
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 8 of 30
    jungmarkjungmark Posts: 6,926member
    Apple should put a electric charge in those cables that'll shock the hell out of someone if cut. 
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 9 of 30
    tallest skiltallest skil Posts: 43,388member
    Seems like Apple needs to start making their storefronts out of this.




    SpamSandwich
  • Reply 10 of 30
    Rayz2016Rayz2016 Posts: 6,957member
    I get that Apple worries how permanent security would look around the store, but one of these  thieving morons is going to hurt somebody. 
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 11 of 30
    holyoneholyone Posts: 398member
    Rayz2016 said:
    I get that Apple worries how permanent security would look around the store, but one of these  thieving morons is going to hurt somebody. 
    Yeah and Apple's brand will take a hammering especially considering that this has been going on for some time and Apple the richest company in the world has done zilch, it's kinda eresponsible of Apple
  • Reply 12 of 30
    bellsbells Posts: 140member
    holyone said:
    Rayz2016 said:
    I get that Apple worries how permanent security would look around the store, but one of these  thieving morons is going to hurt somebody. 
    Yeah and Apple's brand will take a hammering especially considering that this has been going on for some time and Apple the richest company in the world has done zilch, it's kinda eresponsible of Apple
    Apple pays the mall. It is supposed to provide security.
    pscooter63watto_cobra
  • Reply 13 of 30
    holyoneholyone Posts: 398member
    bells said:
    holyone said:
    Rayz2016 said:
    I get that Apple worries how permanent security would look around the store, but one of these  thieving morons is going to hurt somebody. 
    Yeah and Apple's brand will take a hammering especially considering that this has been going on for some time and Apple the richest company in the world has done zilch, it's kinda eresponsible of Apple
    Apple pays the mall. It is supposed to provide security.
    For every Individual tenant ? Not sure what you're implying, but either way, the point is Apple stores are clearly being targeted so if for no other reason  Apple might want to protect the people it sells its products too, just for precaution, they say prevention is better than cure, the guards wouldn't be there to stop the thugs but for crowd control to insure no one does anything stupid and gets hurt.

     coz this will end up in a lawsuits and some unnecessary bad publicity for Apple you know how much of a lawsuit magnet Apple is, 
  • Reply 14 of 30
    StrangeDaysStrangeDays Posts: 12,844member
    Apple is going to have to hire armed security guards in high crime areas soon. The stores are like a candy store for these thieves otherwise and since Apple makes the most per square foot of any retail space in the world, they need to protect the products, workers and customers.
    These aren't high crime areas and Apple won't be hiring security. Not everybody chooses to live in fear. 
    edited April 2017 pscooter63watto_cobra
  • Reply 15 of 30
    StrangeDaysStrangeDays Posts: 12,844member

    bluefire1 said:
    Hire one or more security guards like many other stores do, and have all client service workers have an option on their iPhones to set off a loud in store alarm system or have it silently alert security in the mall. 
    Sounds dreadful. 

    Better alternative -- enjoy the fact that these loses are rare. 
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 16 of 30
    StrangeDaysStrangeDays Posts: 12,844member

    jungmark said:
    Apple should put a electric charge in those cables that'll shock the hell out of someone if cut. 
    Are you kidding? That would look like shit. 
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 17 of 30
    StrangeDaysStrangeDays Posts: 12,844member

    holyone said:
    Rayz2016 said:
    I get that Apple worries how permanent security would look around the store, but one of these  thieving morons is going to hurt somebody. 
    Yeah and Apple's brand will take a hammering especially considering that this has been going on for some time and Apple the richest company in the world has done zilch, it's kinda eresponsible of Apple
    Uh oh, sounds like a dire prediction of doom, paired with a side of armchair executive know-how. Hilarious. 
    edited April 2017 pscooter63watto_cobra
  • Reply 18 of 30
    Samsung needs to come up with a better R&D plan for future products. /s  ;)
    quadra 610RacerhomieXpscooter63watto_cobra
  • Reply 19 of 30
    jungmark said:
    Apple should put a electric charge in those cables that'll shock the hell out of someone if cut. 
    Not necessary. The stores carry insurance. I'm glad no one was hurt.
    pscooter63watto_cobra
  • Reply 20 of 30
    tallest skiltallest skil Posts: 43,388member
    Not necessary. The stores carry insurance. I'm glad no one was hurt.
    It’s not necessary to effectively defend yourself or protect against illegal activity because there’s a safety net in place? Really?
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