New Jersey Apple Store Robbed of MacBook Pros, iPhones, and iPod Touches

[Billy Boo Bob]

I'm just now reading this story. All I can say is... Apple, haven't you heard of the roll-up metal security doors? Or the metal accordion gates?

While closing up a store with steel rollups might look tacky, how about installing some that will, seconds after the window is broken, roll down and trap the suckers inside until cops show up? Or, if someone breaks a window but doesn't go in then it'll secure the place.

 

[Unspoken Demise]

While closing up a store with steel rollups might look tacky, how about installing some that will, seconds after the window is broken, roll down and trap the suckers inside until cops show up? Or, if someone breaks a window but doesn't go in then it'll secure the place.

Cool idea until they sue for kidnapping.
America. F--- YEAH!

 

[Hammy :)]

I'm just now reading this story. All I can say is... Apple, haven't you heard of the roll-up metal security doors? Or the metal accordion gates?

I have very little sympathy for Apple. Their lack of adequate security for such high end consumer products is baffling.

Yeah i totally agree, Apple should have rolldown metal shutters on thier store fronts, and if they dont do it because of the way it looks, they can always paint over it, or print the apple logo over the metal.

It IS half Apples fault for not having sufficient security measures, it was only a matter of time for them to get robbed.

 

[sarcasticdesign]

These criminals obviously don't read macrumors.com

if they did, they'd have waited until the NEW ipods and touches were released tomorrow to rob that store.

 

[rg-easton]

Robbery

I'm surprised these stores don't have a "New York City" style pull down security grate across the front of them.

 

[Fx203]

While closing up a store with steel rollups might look tacky, how about installing some that will, seconds after the window is broken, roll down and trap the suckers inside until cops show up? Or, if someone breaks a window but doesn't go in then it'll secure the place.

That would work until they find a way to get out of the back of the store where all the deliveries come in.

Personally I think that the robbery was an inside job I doubt that apple would leave thousands of dollars worth of merchandise loaded with every single piece of software they sell unlocked when they sit on those tables.

What apple should do is have strong bullet-proof boxes over the tables &other displays when the store is closed, and hire more than one security guard for that store.

 

[dba7dba]

I really don't understand why the security cameras are installed only in the ceiling area. How useful is the image shot from the ceiling for identifying someone? About time stores started installing security cameras at the door at eye/face level.

 

[nullx86]

That would work until they find a way to get out of the back of the store where all the deliveries come in.

Personally I think that the robbery was an inside job I doubt that apple would leave thousands of dollars worth of merchandise loaded with every single piece of software they sell unlocked when they sit on those tables.

What apple should do is have strong bullet-proof boxes over the tables &other displays when the store is closed, and hire more than one security guard for that store.

I'm surprised that they dont have more than 1 security guard in the store. What they should do is have the steel-roll-down doors behind the front doors (so they're in the store) and then on any other door that leads to the outside. Install "break" sensors on the glass, and as soon as the glass gets broken, the doors roll down trapping the equipment inside along with the theifs. Should be on about a 10-30 second timer so that they dont kill someone inside the store trying to escape. Also, silent alarm to the cops when those steel doors roll down. Now the stuff thats like a chain fence, is not wise to install. It will deter some theifs, yes, but those determined to get inside, will. How? Simple; bolt cutters. The type of steel doors I'm talking about are the ones you would see here in America on storage sheds (uHaul, etc.), where its all one piece.

I really don't understand why the security cameras are installed only in the ceiling area. How useful is the image shot from the ceiling for identifying someone? About time stores started installing security cameras at the door at eye/face level.

Personally, they should have some iSights hooked up by the MB(P)s snapping pics at intervals after the store is locked up, and just kinda network the iSights to a Mac of their choice in a locked room.

 

[bigjnyc]

My 2 cents

these guys are just idiotic thugs and did not do anything impressive, a 10 year old can throw a brick through a glass and run in and grab as many toys as he can in 30 seconds then run back out. Nothing strategic or ocean's 13ish about this.

I dont feel bad for Apple they have billions and this does not hurt them in the least bit, plus everything in that store is probably insured by another company which i don't feel sorry for because if apple is one of their clients they probably have tons of money too. I do feel bad for the store manager who is probably making 50-60k and has gotten robbed twice, don't know if this might affect his bonus or if he will catch heat over this, but if so thats the only person i would feel sorry for on the apple side of things.

For those calling for blood and total mutilation of these guys please there are way more vicious criminals out there, not all criminals deserve equal punishment. Are you going to tell me that someone who walks into a store and shoots and kills 7 or 8 innocent people deserves the same punishment as someone who steals a few computers?

 

[Grimbo]

$50,000 in under a minute.

Not bad for a minutes work, eh?

 

[roski11]

Computers are so easy to move they'll never find these things on ebay. That was a pretty well planned out attack

 

[Steve686]

One obvious point nobody has brought up is...parts.

Those guys can make more money off of these computers by selling them for individual parts than they can selling them for 5,6,7, or even 800 apiece.

How many of you out there need a replacement, LCD, Unibody enclosure, trackpad, etc...etc...etc...

If the guys are smart enough to hit and run off with that much money's worth in 31 seconds, I think they may figure out where the value with the systems lies.

Oh, and it wasn't just MBPs, so who knows?

 

[janstett]

I haven't read through 12 pages yet, but why weren't these tethered to the desks? I don't think I've ever seen the gear not secured in Apple stores.

 

[janstett]

Give the security guy a gun, let him shoot them.

I thought americans were already trigger happy? whats goin on?

It depends where. In some states you can openly carry a gun or even conceal it on your person (Texas, et al).

In increasingly totalitarian liberal states like NJ, you can't carry unless you have a permit (Plaxico Burress), you have to transport the gun and the ammo separately in your car (gun locked in the glove compartment and ammo locked in the trunk), the gun must be in a child-safe lockbox at home stored separately from the ammo, etc. Sometimes I think about getting a gun for target practice and a tiny bit for self defense, but NJ makes it very onerous.

I used to work in Allentown, PA (next state over) and Pennsylvanians are gun-crazy in comparison, but that's because outside of Philly and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania might as well be Kentucky and hunting is a big part of life in rural PA.

 

[janstett]

would you feel comfortable shopping in a store where someone died? possibly standing on the exact spot their blood leeched into the floor?

Ever been in a hospital?

 

[janstett]

Know what they should do! Automated gun turrets!
Screw the security guard, just stick a couple infrared turret guns at the back of the store! No more robberies I guarantee it!!

Anyone want to chop Steve Jobs in here?

 

[icedicarus]

that is horrible!! the company that one of my friends works for was given the job of updating many of the detroit public schools with brand new apple computers. two kids decided to rob the installers at gunpoint and one of the installers got pistol whipped in the face during the robbery!! now the FBI is involved trying to track down the MAC thieves!!

http://www.detnews.com/article/20090827/METRO01/908270466/1026/rss06

 

[Hemingray]

In increasingly totalitarian liberal states like NJ, you can't carry unless you have a permit (Plaxico Burress), you have to transport the gun and the ammo separately in your car (gun locked in the glove compartment and ammo locked in the trunk), the gun must be in a child-safe lockbox at home stored separately from the ammo, etc. Sometimes I think about getting a gun for target practice and a tiny bit for self defense, but NJ makes it very onerous.

You can't even keep a handgun in your glove box in CA. It has to be in the trunk or another fully enclosed, lockable box (like a pistol safe). It's interesting how widely the laws vary between states for transporting firearms.

 

[barkmonster]

Has anyone got visions of it being like the heist in Beverly Hills Cop, complete with the same background music and Bridget Nielson looking impatient while they do it. Or is it just me?

I wonder how they expect to get away with this in the long run. There's got to be so many ways Apple can trace the hardware once it's in use, it's only a matter of time that the people who did this are caught?

 

[kernkraft]

Who is the robber?

Did just somebody accuse Apple of daylight robbery?

3 grand for a computer?! With no Blu Ray?! THAT is criminal!

 

[silentnite]

As crazy as it seems. This is what is happening in the world. Thank God no one was hurt. In NY they had a guy around the Soho store who would wait until you come out with your computer in hand and snatch everything. He also had a handgun and would follow you down the street and rob you. Then he would sell your items to a local pawn shop in midtown NY.

He was later caught this summer. Thank god!

 

[zap2]

Good new...the door has been replaced!(as of yesterday)...so has the other door, which had be broken for a reason I don't know a while ago

 

[celtikmind]

I wonder how they expect to get away with this in the long run. There's got to be so many ways Apple can trace the hardware once it's in use, it's only a matter of time that the people who did this are caught?

They most likely will get away with it.

I once thought the same thing when my MacBook was stolen back in the nineties. Haven't heard anything from either Apple or anyone else on the matter since. Neither has any of my friends who lost their's as well.

Having a white computer, one made in aluminum or any MacBook today for that matter, is hardly unique anymore. They're seen both here and there so who's going to notice if it's stolen or not. Don't think the average consumer knows it's possible to call Apple to check if it's stolen or not (if it still is possible). It's purely up to the buyer to 'feel' if the seller is acting suspiciously or not.

Soneone wrote that they were stolen the day before some new products were released... Inside job? Insurance fraud? Too much watching CSI?

 

[zeeklancer]

All it takes (for the computers at least) is a fresh install of OS X, and they won't be phoning home. If they have any brains, they won't let them connect to the internet until they reinstall OS X.

The phones are a different story though. Apple will find those the second they connect to AT&T's network. AT&T surely will track them for Apple.

Don

Actually apple made the hardware, they could have put phone home in the bios and tied it to the network jack. Plug it in, and it could make a TCP connection on its own without the OS (any OS) knowing about it, or even a hard drive installed on the system.

Sure they could see the pack at the router if they wanted, but by the time they see it it is likely too late.

-Zeek

 

[cjmillsnun]

Actually apple made the hardware, they could have put phone home in the bios and tied it to the network jack. Plug it in, and it could make a TCP connection on its own without the OS (any OS) knowing about it, or even a hard drive installed on the system.

Sure they could see the pack at the router if they wanted, but by the time they see it it is likely too late.

-Zeek

BIOS? not in an Apple system!