Thieves caught in the act of robbing a California Apple Store
After a summer of Apple Store robberies throughout California and elsewhere, three suspects were caught in the act Sunday, and detained by customers near the Apple Store in Thousand Oaks.
Three men entered an Apple Store in Thousand Oaks, Calif., Sunday and took several items. But this robbery ended differently from all of the other similar ones this summer. After fleeing the store, two of the robbers were tackled by customers, leading to their arrest, police said. A third suspect, along with alleged accomplices, was arrested seperately.
"Once inside, the three suspects proceeded to steal several Apple iPhones and Apple laptop computers totaling approximately $18,000.00," the Ventura County Sheriff's Department's report said. "All three suspects ran out of the store, and in doing so, ran into a juvenile female customer causing her to fall to the ground. Other customers in the area tackled two of the suspects and detained them until Thousand Oaks Police Department Deputies arrived on scene."
The third suspect fled, but his car was later pulled over by police, who arrested that suspect and two others who were in the getaway car. In all, five people were arrested. The alleged conspirators have been charged with burglary as well as conspiracy to commit burglary.
The TV station KCAL reported that another Apple Store robbery took place earlier that day in Northridge, and police believe the suspects may be tied to the other robberies that have taken place in the state this summer. Four of the suspects are from Northern California while the fifth is from Fresno.
These thefts have been taking place throughout the country since the spring, with many of them concentrated throughout California. In recent weeks, Apple Stores have been hit in Bakersfield and Roseville, with local police departments lately stepping up their efforts to catch the perpetrators.
The thefts are always similar -- thieves run into the store, quickly grab multiple display items, and run back out, sometimes after just a few seconds. The speed of the robberies, as well as the unique layout of Apple Stores, has made catching the suspects elusive, even though several of the crimes have been caught on surveillance video.
Three men entered an Apple Store in Thousand Oaks, Calif., Sunday and took several items. But this robbery ended differently from all of the other similar ones this summer. After fleeing the store, two of the robbers were tackled by customers, leading to their arrest, police said. A third suspect, along with alleged accomplices, was arrested seperately.
"Once inside, the three suspects proceeded to steal several Apple iPhones and Apple laptop computers totaling approximately $18,000.00," the Ventura County Sheriff's Department's report said. "All three suspects ran out of the store, and in doing so, ran into a juvenile female customer causing her to fall to the ground. Other customers in the area tackled two of the suspects and detained them until Thousand Oaks Police Department Deputies arrived on scene."
The third suspect fled, but his car was later pulled over by police, who arrested that suspect and two others who were in the getaway car. In all, five people were arrested. The alleged conspirators have been charged with burglary as well as conspiracy to commit burglary.
The TV station KCAL reported that another Apple Store robbery took place earlier that day in Northridge, and police believe the suspects may be tied to the other robberies that have taken place in the state this summer. Four of the suspects are from Northern California while the fifth is from Fresno.
These thefts have been taking place throughout the country since the spring, with many of them concentrated throughout California. In recent weeks, Apple Stores have been hit in Bakersfield and Roseville, with local police departments lately stepping up their efforts to catch the perpetrators.
The thefts are always similar -- thieves run into the store, quickly grab multiple display items, and run back out, sometimes after just a few seconds. The speed of the robberies, as well as the unique layout of Apple Stores, has made catching the suspects elusive, even though several of the crimes have been caught on surveillance video.
Comments
I don't like the look of a big, burly security guard standing at the entrance of retail stores (it's uninviting), but maybe it's time at least in the areas that have experienced such robberies.
I like Apple, but I don't think I would risk myself to tackle a thief in a retail environment. Those people deserve something special from Apple, IMO.
My hope is that the existence of universal media, both professional and ad hoc, makes the incidence of abhorrent human behavior appear to be much greater than it actually is. But it’s so in your face these days and at every level people are behaving badly, even from people who are supposed to be setting good examples. When did mankind collectively throw in the towel and say screw it, it’s every man for himself from now on, so grab whatever you can?
https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2018/08/20/citizens-hold-apple-theft-suspects/
Other people couldn't care less or be the least bit concern. Their choice of course, but I wish they were smart enough not to be so proud of that. They seem think doing the safe reasonable thing makes them special.
But there are those who have the wherewithal for whatever reason, to capably intervene and I'm glad to see it. It's a personal decision and it would be wrong for Apple to encourage it in any manner. They certainly don't expect their customers or employees to put themselves in harm's way. Many companies/corporations discipline their employees who take 'heroic' action to preserve monies or property.
As such, I applaud the actions of the concerned citizens pulling this off without getting themselves hurt. I wonder how many of the suspects are juveniles (if any) and how many are adults.
they were all adults.
Really? So, how do you explain that theft happens a lot less in areas/cities/states where people are allowed to conceal and open carry?
In other words, when faced with a threat of injuring or killing themselves, thieves become a lot less encouraged to steal. Who would have thought... but, I guess, there is no logic...
smh
And the OP poster is correct... it has been PROVEN that jurisdictions with conceal and open-carry, heck even those that are very pro-2nd amendment, crime is nowhere near as bad. All one needs to do is look at Detroit with some of the most restrictive gun-control laws in the country to realize that the ones doing all the shooting apparently don't care about gun laws, and know with relative safety that they can rob someone's house without fear of the homeowner brandishing a firearm since the law only strips guns from law-abiding people.