Parisian Apple Store Robbed of 1 Million Euros in Merchandise on New Year's Eve

[MacRumors]

The Apple Store Opéra in Paris, France was robbed by four masked gunmen on New Year's Eve. The thieves made off with more than 1 million euros worth of iPhones and iPads.

Christophe Crepin, an Unsa police union official, told Le Parisien newspaper that 'the four hooded and heavily armed criminals made their move very quickly. Most of the police forces were being mobilised to monitor the Champs Elysees, so the robbers have clearly benefitted from this opportunity to strike.'

Mr Crepin said the robbers mainly took 'a lot of goods' and very little money. Early estimates were that the haul was worth well over 1 million euros, or close to 1 million pounds.

With Apple gadgets fetching such a high price on the secondary market, thefts of individual devices in muggings are common. However, organized robberies on Apple Retail Stores are more uncommon.

The Covent Garden location in London was attacked by a group of armed motorcycle riders in 2011, while an Apple Store employee was shot at a Virginia Apple Store back in 2009. Smash and grabs are more common, with thieves using vehicles to crash through the barricades at outdoor stores to steal merchandise.

Article Link: Parisian Apple Store Robbed of 1 Million Euros in Merchandise on New Year's Eve

[mw360]

Security probably had their Do-Not-Disturb on....

[Mike MA]

I know what the mayor of Paris will soon be saying about their crime index.

[Keniutek]

Time to hit ebay On a serious note, security staff probably had their "eyes closed" by "design".

[MacRumorUser]

Sacrébleu!!!





We have the plot to a new Hercule Poirot's case...

[Leonard1818]

Hope they enabled "find my iPhone"

[unplugme71]

Great, Apple prices will go up eventually if this theft in millions keeps happening.

[cat3600]

Originally Posted by unplugme71

Great, Apple prices will go up eventually if this theft in millions keeps happening.

you do realize that all will be covered under insurance. What do you think apple pays from their pocket!!??

[fondacio]

Originally Posted by MacRumorUser

We have the plot to a new Hercule Poirot's case...

Poirot, being Belgian, would of course have been more appropriate to investigate the Mobistar theft of a few weeks ago.

[Digital Skunk]

Originally Posted by firewood

If Apple's products were overpriced, then there would be no customers for their products. Given that Apple's stores are so crowded, and with waiting list for some of their products, it might, in fact, mean that some of their products are underpriced.

I gave up two years of my life at Apple retail. Those lines aren't for purchases unless it's new iPhone week. Most of our foot traffic was the result of Genius Bar appointments, and about 70% of those where for the iPhone.

Originally Posted by wkennedy74

You seriously typed this? Thieve's conversation in your mind "Apple store or PC World?" "Well, Samsung's price point is more reasonable, so let's hit the Apple Store!"

You are clearly an android user.

They hit the Apple Store because Apple products are in demand, and they can get rid of them quickly. That is all.

Last I checked a $4000 PC costs the same as a $4000 Mac. Since the article only tells us how much was stolen and not sold for, anyone's point about a "Samsung" or "PC" store NOT being robbed is moot.

Now, the real question is why these stores are getting robbed so easily, or why are retail employees able to heist so much merchandise? When I worked retail at Apple, there were at least 4 levels of security for each section of the store, 5 for the Genius Bar repairs, and almost 8 total if you had no business being in the BOH.

[PowerPCMacMan]

Sacrableuman shalmani makh.


QUOTE=MacRumorUser;16591264]Sacrébleu!!!





We have the plot to a new Hercule Poirot's case...[/QUOTE]

[Stampyhead]

Wow, I was just in that store recently...
Apple needs to find a way to beef up their security in these stores. The more these stories are in the news the more smash and grabs are going to happen...

[ts1973]

Only last week, Belgian's Mobistar was robbed of "thousands" of new iphones from their distribution warehouse. Average value was about € 600, so this represents a loss which is as least as big...

Same principle btw : armed robbery.

Link (dutch) : http://www.knack.be/nieuws/belgie/du...0225115077.htm

[jclardy]

Originally Posted by Stampyhead

Wow, I was just in that store recently...
Apple needs to find a way to beef up their security in these stores. The more these stories are in the news the more smash and grabs are going to happen...

There is not much a store can do to protect itself from armed robbery other than locking up merchandise (Which they keep more on the floor during holidays to speed up checkouts.) And having a shootout where innocent people get hurt in an Apple store will damage their brand way more than having a bunch of goods stolen.

Having rent-a-cop's with guns will do no good as they can't kill people for theft.

[WestonHarvey1]

Originally Posted by jclardy

There is not much a store can do to protect itself from armed robbery other than locking up merchandise (Which they keep more on the floor during holidays to speed up checkouts.) And having a shootout where innocent people get hurt in an Apple store will damage their brand way more than having a bunch of goods stolen.

Having rent-a-cop's with guns will do no good as they can't kill people for theft.

You are confusing robbery with theft. Robbery is a violent crime. Shooting armed robbers isn't defending property, it's defending life.

Maybe it's different in France, but the general principal should hold everywhere. If someone points a gun at you, it doesn't matter if their intent is to steal something - you shoot them.

[mabhatter]

Originally Posted by Stampyhead

Wow, I was just in that store recently...
Apple needs to find a way to beef up their security in these stores. The more these stories are in the news the more smash and grabs are going to happen...

Not really, all the stuff on the shop floor is tagged and lo-jacked. History shows, if they put up more barricades, people just get more reckless. Sure Apple couldbe like every other electronics store and put permanent bars up on tiny windows nobody so nobody can climb in. Put heavy barricaded doors up...

They can look like a pawn shop on 8 Mile in Deroit.

ID like the media to do report what the RECOVERY RATE is for these heists. ID bet Aple ends up with most of the stuff accounted for rather quickly. THAT is how you deter crime.. Report how fast the stuff gets picked up by cops.

[xkmxkmxlmx]

So they stole 48 lightning adapters? Daaaaaaaaaaamn~

[iWe]

Originally Posted by Stampyhead

Wow, I was just in that store recently...
Apple needs to find a way to beef up their security in these stores. The more these stories are in the news the more smash and grabs are going to happen...

It's time for the U.S. the broaden the operational range of drones to French soil.

[jayducharme]

Most of the police forces were being mobilised to monitor the Champs Elysees

Why? Were there riots on the Champs Elysees?

[barkomatic]

Missing from the story is the part where Apple files a lawsuit against Samsung over the theft.

[Thunderhawks]

Originally Posted by barkomatic

Missing from the story is the part where Apple files a lawsuit against Samsung over the theft.

This just in:

The SAMSUNG store in Paris was broken into via a drive by. A masked man smashed a window, threw a Nexus 4 into the store and fled!

When the police found out what happened they stopped the investigation according to crime chief Pepe Le Pew.

[theGAPkid]

Originally Posted by jayducharme

Why? Were there riots on the Champs Elysees?

NYE? Partying? Fireworks? Perhaps

[BRLawyer]

Originally Posted by jayducharme

Why? Were there riots on the Champs Elysees?

Riots and fights always happen on New Year's Eve in Paris - in fact, that city is a dumpster and a train wreck in terms of safety, always infested with illegal immigrants and unemployed youths coming from the banlieues.

[macchiato2009]

Originally Posted by BRLawyer

Riots and fights always happen on New Year's Eve in Paris - in fact, that city is a dumpster and a train wreck in terms of safety, always infested with illegal immigrants and unemployed youths coming from the banlieues.

especially north African immigrants, now 2nd or 3rd gen, French-born, who love to steal, damage new stuff like train and metro glasses, wall tagging...

well people who have no respect for others

that why police forces have to sent reinforcements and focus on this area every year

as i remember they broke a few shop glasses 2 years ago

this year, they burned more than 1000 cars

[Builddesign]

Originally Posted by BRLawyer

Riots and fights always happen on New Year's Eve in Paris - in fact, that city is a dumpster and a train wreck in terms of safety, always infested with illegal immigrants and unemployed youths coming from the banlieues.

I was offered many things on the Champs Elysees... That strip is full of people and had police combing the street during NYE. Nothing like champagne in streets of Paris. Come to find out that tower lights up every hour!