16 iPhones stolen under my sight !

[Max(IT)]

This morning I was witness of a robbery in the nearest Apple Store. I was waiting to buy a leather case for my new iPhone 6 , the store was just opened (10:03 am) when a group of 8 teenagers entered the store.
They started watching the first two desks, where the iPhones were showed. Suddenly every one grabbed two phones and run away (the mall's exit is just a few meters away). A single employee tried to run after them, but he was too slow to catch up.
I'm healthy and fast, military trained, and I was just a few meters away, but I was just unprepared for that (and I had my 4 years old son with me) so I basically did nothing.

What a stupid robbery. Those iPhones are unusable. They will probably end up as a fraud on eBay..........

 

[Shanghaichica]

Aren't the devices attached to the display?

At my local Apple store all the devices are attached to the display.

 

[Max(IT)]

Aren't the devices attached to the display?

At my local Apple store all the devices are attached to the display.

There was the typical anti thief device attached, but if you pull strong enough it breaks.... And they did.

 

[eelw]

Bet these kids are stupid enough to still hang out in this mall later. So only matter of time before they get identified in security video and caught.

 

[Gav2k]

Congrats to them on pulling 16 bricks... Dumb

 

[Max(IT)]

Bet these kids are stupid enough to still hang out in this mall later. So only matter of time before they get identified in security video and caught.

Yep. There are a lot of security cams, and these kids weren't gypsy or something like that, so I think they'll be identified, sooner or later.

 

[Shanghaichica]

There was the typical anti thief device attached, but if you pull strong enough it breaks.... And they did.

Oh I didn't know that you could break it off. Never thought about it really.

 

[Max(IT)]

Congrats to them on pulling 16 bricks... Dumb

I feel sorry for the buyer that will be Scummed....

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Oh I didn't know that you could break it off. Never thought about it really.

They easily did. The alarm activated, but it was useless.....

 

[CEmajr]

How do you figure the phones are unusable? They're demo devices and don't have find my iPhone or an iCloud account attached to them. They can be fully reset on iTunes and sold like a lightly used device.

Those guys just made a few thousand in profit along with jail time once they're caught.

 

[Max(IT)]

How do you figure the phones are unusable? They're demo devices and don't have find my iPhone or an iCloud account attached to them. They can be fully reset on iTunes and sold like a lightly used device.

Those guys just made a few thousand in profit along with jail time once they're caught.

THE Apple employee told me the demo devices are all activated with an Apple account. They are unusable without a password.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

THE Apple employee told me the demo devices are all activated with an Apple account. They are unusable without a password.

I assume activation-locked too. However, people sell activation-locked iPhones on ebay all the time so they'll make off with some $$$ with 16 phones.

 

[Max(IT)]

I assume activation-locked too. However, people sell activation-locked iPhones on ebay all the time so they'll make off with some $$$ with 16 phones.

Spare parts?

 

[ucfgrad93]

I assume activation-locked too. However, people sell activation-locked iPhones on ebay all the time so they'll make off with some $$$ with 16 phones.

Sadly, this is true.

 

[newellj]

In most US malls there are enough cameras that the kids would be caught for sure, sooner rather than later. I assume that security cameras are very common in Italy?

 

[MICHAELSD]

It's not like the Apple Store would have Find My iPhone activated.

 

[Max(IT)]

In most US malls there are enough cameras that the kids would be caught for sure, sooner rather than later. I assume that security cameras are very common in Italy?

They are, like in USA, so I hope they'll be caught.

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It's not like the Apple Store would have Find My iPhone activated.

They can't be remotely wiped, but you still need a password to reset them.

 

[617aircav]

This morning I was witness of a robbery in the nearest Apple Store. I was waiting to buy a leather case for my new iPhone 6 , the store was just opened (10:03 am) when a group of 8 teenagers entered the store.

They started watching the first two desks, where the iPhones were showed. Suddenly every one grabbed two phones and run away (the mall's exit is just a few meters away). A single employee tried to run after them, but he was too slow to catch up.

I'm healthy and fast, military trained, and I was just a few meters away, but I was just unprepared for that (and I had my 4 years old son with me) so I basically did nothing.



What a stupid robbery. Those iPhones are unusable. They will probably end up as a fraud on eBay..........

So you contemplated risking your life for a multibillion dollar company?

 

[Sketchr]

So you contemplated risking your life for a multibillion dollar company?

Not unusual for many of us. It's not about getting the products back for Apple. Apple has insurance, they are not directly out the merchandise. But guess who pays for the insurance? The consumer. Hopefully the criminals get caught. They cost us all money.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Not unusual for many of us. It's not about getting the products back for Apple. Apple has insurance, they are not directly out the merchandise. But guess who pays for the insurance? The consumer. Hopefully the criminals get caught. They cost us all money.

So do anal-retentive members who blast through 8-9 iPhones each year until they satisfy their anal retentiveness.

As well as everyone here who deliberately damages their iPhones whenever they desire a replacement under AC+ and think nothing of it.

 

[lordofthereef]

In my area you can easily sell a "bricked" 6 for $100, maybe slightly more.

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So you contemplated risking your life for a multibillion dollar company?

Or for doing the right thing. The first thing that comes into my mind isn't daving the "poor company". In assuming in not alone in this.

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In most US malls there are enough cameras that the kids would be caught for sure, sooner rather than later. I assume that security cameras are very common in Italy?

Cameras are pretty worthless unless these kids are repeat offenders. And buy repeat, I mean they do it often enough that employees start to recognize them.

 

[monkey28rb]

They do this crap at ATT all the time...

 

[AlecZ]

So you contemplated risking your life for a multibillion dollar company?

I wouldn't care about Apple. I'd care about having those brats caught. Still, I wouldn't chase them. You risk your safety, you risk getting in trouble for injuring any of them, and the laws discourage it. If you're injured while going after them, you won't get victim's compensation. And they'd probably just get a slap on the wrist if caught anyway, while you could suffer some great penalty for tackling a teenager if he is injured or if you end up having to defend yourself (especially if there are certain "racial variables" in place). Not worth it.

 

[iososx]

In most US malls there are enough cameras that the kids would be caught for sure, sooner rather than later. I assume that security cameras are very common in Italy?

This is known as a "smash, grab & run" crime in my state (even though in this case they didn't smash a display case).

While hard to believe, and camera's everywhere, this same robbery occurred at the Apple store close to my home. Even after the video was shown on TV, they (LAPD) still failed to capture the thieves.

 

[Max(IT)]

So you contemplated risking your life for a multibillion dollar company?

Nope. I contemplated risking my life to caught a thief.

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So do anal-retentive members who blast through 8-9 iPhones each year until they satisfy their anal retentiveness.

As well as everyone here who deliberately damages their iPhones whenever they desire a replacement under AC+ and think nothing of it.

That's so true

 

[Tsuchiya]

That sucks, but those phones would have been next to useless within the hour and new units put out at the first opportunity.

Apple can take the hit, it's not worth risking your wellbeing by confronting a bunch of thieves. Especially with your kid around. You made the right call.