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As I understand it, the phones on display are set to demo mode and cannot be activated whatever you do. Also, if anyone ever tries to activate them they'll be identified pretty readily. For the same reason, you can't buy a display model iphone as they simply can't be made to be usable phones.
 
As I understand it, the phones on display are set to demo mode and cannot be activated whatever you do. Also, if anyone ever tries to activate them they'll be identified pretty readily. For the same reason, you can't buy a display model iphone as they simply can't be made to be usable phones.

That's what the Apple employee told me

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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.

As far as I know, Apple store has an insurance, so Apple didn't take any hit.

Regarding my son, yes, at the time I was more concerned about him to be scared by the confusion, with alarms and screaming people.
 
As I understand it, the phones on display are set to demo mode and cannot be activated whatever you do. Also, if anyone ever tries to activate them they'll be identified pretty readily. For the same reason, you can't buy a display model iphone as they simply can't be made to be usable phones.

actually, they can. I've seen a phone bought from some shady place and that person had demo software on the device.

also, apple knows the serial numbers and everything from any floor demo model. so if they get sold and someone brings it to a genius bar appointment, they're screwed.
 
actually, they can. I've seen a phone bought from some shady place and that person had demo software on the device.

also, apple knows the serial numbers and everything from any floor demo model. so if they get sold and someone brings it to a genius bar appointment, they're screwed.

Thing is, an individual who isn't educated about what they're stealing isn't going to be stopped by a phone that can't be activated... because they don't know that, or might know but are convinced they have a way to get around it.

That, or they hope to sell it off to someone who doesn't know what to look for.
 
actually, they can. I've seen a phone bought from some shady place and that person had demo software on the device.

also, apple knows the serial numbers and everything from any floor demo model. so if they get sold and someone brings it to a genius bar appointment, they're screwed.

That's the point I was making. If you want to un-demo a demo iphone, you're a bit stuck. You can do nothing with a new iphone until you've activated it, and doing that will alert Apple immediately to your location and brick the phone.
 
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.

No no no! Better you didn't do anything! And the employee should not have even bothered running after them. The store will replace them. You can not replace your life if God forbid they have a gun and shoot you. Its just a stupid phone!
 
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 :cool:, 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..........

No no no! Better you didn't do anything! And the employee should not have even bothered running after them. The store will replace them. You can not replace your life if God forbid they have a gun and shoot you. Its just a stupid phone!

I'll agree with this poster but more because you say your in shape, the chances of you accidentally hurting someone is increased and then you run the risk of being brought to court.
 
16 iPhones stolen under my sight !

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

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That's so true


And you do no store employees are forbidden from chasing thieves? Apple has security in place to deal with such situations. There was no immediate danger to anyone and by you intervening you could have created that immediate danger. You were not saving anyone and would have endangered yourself and others for no reason. I'm all for helping to help people in danger, this case didn't qualify.
 
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Awe, I hope they had fun. I'm sure mom/dad will be proud of their kids...:(

Good job of not getting involved and running after them...remember you have a family to take care of...things could have went terribly wrong if they had a gun or something.
 
This afternoon in the same Apple store there were two armed guards at the entrance.....
 
also, employees are told to never chase anyone who steals something. you could get in trouble at work if you do and if you try to grab them you could also be faced with punishment as well. you're just supposed to tell the manager and they'll call mall security or the police.
 
also, employees are told to never chase anyone who steals something. you could get in trouble at work if you do and if you try to grab them you could also be faced with punishment as well. you're just supposed to tell the manager and they'll call mall security or the police.

Walmart loss prevention is on a whole different level of crazy. They will chase you, follow your car, and go to your home haha.

Just a few of the crazy things I have heard in court.
 
also, employees are told to never chase anyone who steals something. you could get in trouble at work if you do and if you try to grab them you could also be faced with punishment as well. you're just supposed to tell the manager and they'll call mall security or the police.

Actually the store manager tried to catch them...
 
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 :cool:, 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..........

Probably better you did not get involved. If these people are foolish enough to steal phones that will likely become blacklisted, who knows what stupid things they are capable of.

You had your son with you, the most I would have done was called the police and let them know what I saw.
 
Probably better you did not get involved. If these people are foolish enough to steal phones that will likely become blacklisted, who knows what stupid things they are capable of.

You had your son with you, the most I would have done was called the police and let them know what I saw.

The police was alerted by alarms...

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Yup, Italy.

Are you suggesting something with that?

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Everyone tries harder to catch criminals while in the act over there compared to the U.S., the OP, store manager and even the cops.

Actually I did nothing, primary because of my son's presence and also because I was totally unprepared. It was just a second thought, because I'd be easily able to catch the nearest thief....

But in west Palm beach, Florida, I personally saw a store employee take down a guy in a Best Buy store while attempting a robbery. So your theory about Europe to be different from USA doesn't seem correct in my opinion.
 
Actually I did nothing, primary because of my son's presence and also because I was totally unprepared. It was just a second thought, because I'd be easily able to catch the nearest thief....

But in west Palm beach, Florida, I personally saw a store employee take down a guy in a Best Buy store while attempting a robbery. So your theory about Europe to be different from USA doesn't seem correct in my opinion.

But you indicated you'd take some action if it wasn't for your son.

As for Best Buy, are you sure it wasn't a security guard? If so, that's definitely an anomaly.

On the other hand, there have been a number of posts on European police actively tracking down iDevice thieves. That'd never happen here.
 
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