Foxconn Factory Worker Detained Over iPhone 6 Shell Leaks

[MacRumors]

A Foxconn worker is being detained after being accused of stealing six iPhone 6 rear shells from the factory line and reselling them to an unidentified party in Shenzhen, China, reports The Wall Street Journal, citing details in Chinese newspaper Taihang Daily. The thefts started in late July and netted the 40-year-old male factory worker a total of 6,000 yuan ($960).

The suspect, identified only with the surname Qiao, allegedly responded to an advertisement that offered to purchase "parts from Apple Inc. at high prices." Qiao snuck out his first shell on July 24 and shipped the product to an address in Shenzhen.

"On July 24, according to the article, Qiao hid one shell in his pocket and successfully avoided the security check by leaving at the peak of quitting time, when lots of workers swarm out of the factory at the same time. He sent the shell to an address in Shenzhen via a local courier service and received his money couple days later.

Apparently encouraged, he stole another five shells that month and sent them to the same buyer, the article said."

Foxconn reported the thefts to local police in mid-August, who identified Qiao within 20 days through the use of video surveillance, employee records, and courier service logs. Foxconn told CNET in a statement that Foxconn expects its employees to follow the company's strict Code of Conduct.

"As a matter of company policy, Foxconn does not comment on any aspect of our work for any customer," a Foxconn Technology Group spokesperson told CNET in an e-mailed statement. "However, we can say that we have a strict Company Code of Conduct that our company and our employees are expected to follow and we do not hesitate to take the appropriate action, including bringing matters to the attention of the relevant law enforcement authorities, should we determine that this Code has been violated."

Numerous components from the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus were leaked in the months leading up to Apple's September announcement event. Detailed photos and videos of the shells provided a glimpse into the design of the two handsets, while internal components hinted at NFC and other features that ultimately appeared in the final device.

Article Link: Foxconn Factory Worker Detained Over iPhone 6 Shell Leaks

 

[skywalkerr69]

Out of the 1000000000000000000000000000 photos, they detain one guy?

 

[NOV]

I don't envy Mr. Qiao...

 

[AnsonX10]

This would make a good movie.

 

[Dekema2]

If devices like this were made in America, where checks are thorough, security is tighter and corporate espionage/knockoffs aren't as prominent perhaps this wouldn't have happened. Perhaps.

 

[Crosscreek]

Ouch, Chinese prison...........

 

[nfl46]

Mr. Qiao - thanks to you, we knew how the iPhone 6 looked.

 

[iomar]

Well, now we know who was responsible for bring us the pictures of new iPhone shells.

 

[realeric]

Citizens of the world most poorest country having 18 trillion debt think the citizens of the world most richest country having 1.4 trillion us treasury bond are slaves. Isn't it funny?

 

[camnchar]

If devices like this were made in America, where checks are thorough, security is tighter and corporate espionage/knockoffs aren't as prominent perhaps this wouldn't have happened. Perhaps.

Ha ha ha good one.

 

[KdParker]

Well the cats out of the bag now...and has been for awhile.

Somehow I doubt that was the only leak.

 

[MentalFloss]

Out of the 1000000000000000000000000000 photos, they detain one guy?

If he sold five cases, then he was responsible for a pretty large portion of the leaks.

 

[carlgo]

All the more impressive that the watch wasn't leaked.

 

[Nozuka]

The thefts started in late July and netted the 40-year-old male factory worker a total of 6,000 yuan ($960).

he could have made so much more money with this...

 

[Will do good]

Good catch, about time Foxconn put a stop to this corporate thefts.

 

[HarryKeogh]

I hear he also tried to smuggle out an Apple Watch but the buyer thought he was surely joking.

 

[LostMyiPhone]

This poor guy... Stealing is wrong but I'm pretty sure his consequence is going to be bad (and he may even /himself).... he *probably* only did it because of the lure of a few extra bucks... $960 may seem like little to us, but it's probably a LOT to a foxconn worker.

 

[MattJessop]

If devices like this were made in America, where checks are thorough, security is tighter and corporate espionage/knockoffs aren't as prominent perhaps this wouldn't have happened. Perhaps.

If devices like this were made in America, every component would have been uploaded to Instagram, with the employee holding it in a selfie.

 

[MacVista]

He netted $960.
How much do they get paid for a workday? Does anyone know? (Is it $1 per hour)

 

[stevers]

Didn't know Foxconn employed TSA members.

 

[Enabledobject]

So is this the long fingernail guy, or the the guy who bought the parts?

 

[MentalFloss]

All the more impressive that the watch wasn't leaked.

It's not in production yet, so it's not all that surprising.

 

[Zxxv]

Dear Foxconn

If you paid your workers more they would tell anyone who asks them to steal to go **** themselves. They would value the secrecy.

 

[wlossw]

If they paid more than 1$ per hour, and people didn't have to work like slaves, They wouldn't compromise their morals for 1000$... Well at least more of them...

 

[Komrad808]

$960 costs this guy his cool job.