“Tens of thousands of dollars in electronics were stolen from the downtown Palo Alto Apple store over the weekend, police said Monday,” Christine Lee reports for Palo Alto Weekly.
“The first theft occurred on Saturday shortly after 7 p.m. Eight black males between the ages of 16 to 25 in hoodies entered the store at 340 University Ave. where they grabbed new demo iPhones and various other electronics collectively valued at about $57,000, according to Palo Alto police Agent Sal Madrigal,” Lee reports. The store was burglarized less than 11 hours later. A passerby called police around 5:50 a.m. Sunday to report the store’s front glass door was smashed, he said.”
“An estimated $50,000 worth of iPhones and iPads, among other items, were stolen,” Lee reports. “None of the suspects have been identified or arrested in either incident, Madrigal said.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Note: Anyone with information about either theft is asked to call the department’s 24-hour dispatch center at 650-329-2413. Anonymous tips can be emailed to paloalto@tipnow.org or sent by text message or voicemail to 650-383-8984. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the police’s free mobile app. More info and download link via Apple’s App Store a href=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/palo-alto-police-department/id841181859″ target=”_new”>here.
SEE ALSO:
Watch iPhone Xs thief get pinned to floor after six crooks are caught robbing Apple Store in broad daylight – September 25, 2018
Customers tackle Apple Store robbers, make citizen’s arrest – August 21, 2018
Apple needs to publicize its retail store display device security measures to deter fruitless robberies – July 26, 2018
Why Apple retail locations can remove security tethers from their demo devices – October 17, 2016
Four arrested after vehicle smashes into Palo Alto Apple Store in brazen heist – December 5, 2016
Apple retail locations removing security tethers from iPhone display units – October 14, 2016
Car drives through Apple Store Berkeley in smash-and-grab burglary – May 9, 2014
Apple Retail Store in Berlin hit by smash-and-grab; display merchandise stolen – December 23, 2013
Apple Store Opera in Paris robbed of $1.3 million worth of products on New Year’s Eve – January 1, 2013
BMW X5 drives into Apple Store in brazen burglary (with surveillance video) – September 13, 2012
1 killed in shot to head, 2 arrested in shootout at Apple Store Otay Ranch – April 4, 2011
“Eight black males between the ages of 16 to 25 in hoodies entered the store at 340 University Ave. where they grabbed new demo iPhones and various other electronics collectively valued at about $57,000, according to Palo Alto police Agent Sal Madrigal,”
Since when were we allowed to call out the race, sex, and hair styles of criminals? Isn’t that considered discrimination?
They’re just trying to make sure we know what type of suspects to be on the lookout for when we go to our beloved Apple stores. When we see suspects matching that description, we’ll know it’s time to leave. Flash mobs are OK on the street, but not in Apple stores.
Since that is how you look for suspects. It’s called a basic description. Get over your hyper-sensitive race/sex issues.
They busted 8 people yesterday for a series of Apple store robberies. The state has taken the case due to the scope of the thefts:
http://www.ktvu.com/news/362370755-video
Apple needs to change their security vendor and procedures. Maybe they could include software in the demo phones that could be remotely activated and explode the battery.
No! You can’t do such a thing. Even criminals have their rights. They shouldn’t be harmed in any way. You must handle thieves with a gentle touch. Even things like billy clubs must not be used on criminals as it might injure them. This is America and even the guilty are treated well.
Heh, I’m sure a few fellows that received bullets in the back REALLY wished that were true LOL
I don’t recall hearing about the race of the suspects in Apple Store smash and grabs when they were white.
When I went to pickup my new Series 4 the other night at Fashion Island in Newport Beach, they did have a security guard there. Don’t think he was armed with a firearm though….
Alllll crooks need to be advised that ALL Apple Store “table displayed” high value items have been registered within the Apple ecosystem and upon theft they cease functioning. GPS and remote wiping…..but u gotta be gansta so have fun with that SAS stuff you do…..!!!
One word: parts.
While Apple Devices may brick after getting away from the store, assuming they are demo devices, this does not prevent them from taking them apart and selling part to people that can use them to fix iPhones etc, and don’t give a rip where the parts came from, only that they are genuine Apple parts are in good condition and are CHEAP,
These thieves know they can keep getting away with this mayhem so there’s no reason to stop. I guess it’s going to become a new Apple store trend. Apple is basically telling these thieves to come and rob their stores and nothing will be done to harm them.
Oer 10% of people do not feel safe going into an Apple Store? That’s crazy! What else scares these people?
Nobody ever robs the Microsoft store.