Thieves Rob Apple Store in Massachusetts and Get Away With $13,000 Worth of iPhones

[IvanX]

How do you know that one of the thieves is called Rob?

 

[xizdun]

Apple can probably "brick" the devices to the user, but still track their locations. Idiots deserve to get caught and put behind bars. Just a shame that I have to pay for their incarceration.

 

[miknos]

Let me guess how the perpetrators look like...

 

[OneTokenRing...]

Even if the intent was to sell for parts, it doesn't seem like a lucrative strategy this close to launch.

Wouldn't almost every phone be under some kind of factory warranty till at least next year?

Except for a screen replacement not sure what other parts would have any value for the next year. Not to mention almost every carrier has introduced reduced screen replacement fees, most for under $100.

 

[joueboy]

That's a $13K brick for those stupid thieves, which probably just cost Apple less than grand to make.

 

[bradkrischel]

And not one person attempted to stop them? What the hell is this world coming too? Amazing, even though the devices are worthless too them after leaving the store.

I wouldn't be surprised if Apple employees are instructed to not interfere in these situations for safety reasons.

 

[seecoolguy]

They'll get away with it, because they'll sell them on craiglist as NIB, the buyers are the ones that lose out

the display models they stole do not include a box...

...just sayin'

 

[maflynn]

the display models they stole do not include a box...

...just sayin'

Oops, you're right, I typed faster then my brain

I already posted my mea culpa

Just sayin'

 

[RandomRazer]

do apple stores not have security cameraS?

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

The Apple Store in Natick is right by the Tesla store. They should have gone big and piled all the iPhones into the Model S on the floor and sped away in that. I've heard you can cut the cellular connection in the car within a few minutes if you know where to cut - they could have blocked Tesla from remotely disabling the car.

 

[usarioclave]

Since the phones are registered to Apple, they could reactivate them when the thieves come back. Also, FmP should work so tracking these guys should be pretty easy.

 

[8692574]

Something tells if these kids had the skills and knowhow to take apart an iPhone without damaging it, they would not be committing this stupid crime to begin with.

My guess is these iPhones end up in a dumpster within 10 miles of the mall.

I wouldn't be so sure, everyone claims they are stupid, but a stupid does not get away that easily.....

Now I do not endorse nor believe they did anything to be proud of, on the contrary, but seems like someone here (security) has been outsmarted... hence... the "kids" are not so dumb after all.

Also a braindead could take the iphone apart (using iFix it videos) the hard part is to reassemble, wich you don't do if you sell the spare part

 

[SMIDG3T]

Let me guess. It was a store where the tethers were recently removed? I hope these yobs are caught. Apple can block them, yes, but they can't stop them from opening them up and selling individual parts for sale.

 

[JeffyTheQuik]

"Hey Joe, let's go steal the stupidest thing possible!"
"Freddy, you mean something that won't work as soon as they find out it's missing and can track us?"
"yeah..."
[doublepost=1477061261][/doublepost]

They'll get away with it, because they'll sell them on craiglist as NIB, the buyers are the ones that lose out

Which is why, when buying Apple stuff, I meet the seller at the Apple Store...

 

[oneMadRssn]

I wouldn't be so sure, everyone claims they are stupid, but a stupid does not get away that easily.....

Now I do not endorse nor believe they did anything to be proud of, on the contrary, but seems like someone here (security) has been outsmarted... hence... the "kids" are not so dumb after all.

Also a braindead could take the iphone apart (using iFix it videos) the hard part is to reassemble, wich you don't do if you sell the spare part

They're not smart, what they did is lowest form of theft - smash and grab. The only smart thing they did was coordinate and be quick. This was a crime of brute force, not brains.

Also, taking apart an iPhone such that the parts are saleable is not that easy - especially the new ones. I'm not saying it requires a college degree, but it does require some experience working with small parts, heat guns, patients, and a steady hand. For example, removing the screen is quite difficult now that it's essentially glued on with the waterproofing gaskets.

 

[2010mini]

The thieves didn't buy these iPhones to use. They bought them to sell. Someone else is going to be stuck with a paperweight, after paying for it.

And that's why a buyer should always be aware. Why would you buy something so expensive from an unverified source?
[doublepost=1477061649][/doublepost]

....
Which is why, when buying Apple stuff, I meet the seller at the Apple Store...

Smart. I'm doing this from now on.

 

[Xenomorph]

$13,000 worth of phone parts. Displays, batteries, etc. No logic boards or Home buttons, though. Definitely not usable phones.

 

[Goatllama]

I would think even the most naive of craigslist buyers would want to turn on the phone and make sure it works. I'm thinking other than maybe selling some of the parts, these things are fairly worthless.

You would hope, but I can testify that there are plenty of clueless purchasers. Makes for an easy Apple Support call, though.

 

[doelcm82]

I hope they catch these kids and prosecute them in a fair an Constitutional manner.

 

[baller1308]

$13,000 worth of phone parts. Displays, batteries, etc. No logic boards or Home buttons, though. Definitely not usable phones.

not even $13k. Phone parts don't cost that much, more like $4k.

 

[shareef777]

You guys are just jealous of their fancy new paper weights!

 

[MrGimper]

We live in a country where the population is armed to the teeth. These criminals could have a gun or knife, who knows what would happen if you attempt to corner a desperate criminal trying to escape.

The employees sure as heck are not going to risk death or permanent disability over some phones. And why the heck would a random customer want to take that kind of risk?

Pretty sure Apple has the money to replace them, with no loss of life or risk.

When I first read the comment you replied to, I was going to say pretty much the same thing. I'm glad others have picked up on this.

 

[QCassidy352]

That's a seriously stupid crime.

In Massachusetts, the retail value of those phones could easily constitute Grand Theft and/or Larceny. The latter of which can receive a prison sentence of over 10 years.

They are juveniles. They face nowhere near those kinds of consequences.

 

[4ubrey]

So they stole like 11 phones? That's what 13k will get you

 

[OllyW]

Let me guess. It was a store where the tethers were recently removed?

Reading the article is recommended before posting your reply.

The Natick Apple location still carried security tethers on the iPhones -- a feature Apple is beginning to eliminate -- and the group "grabbed iPhones from the chargers and tore them away from the security cord that secured them."