Thieves Snatch 300+ iPhone X Models From San Francisco Apple Store

[x-evil-x]

Another interesting read from 3 years ago thats kind of similar https://www.wired.com/2014/12/where-stolen-smart-phones-go/

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

I feel sorry for the orginial receivers of these phones. Bad luck after managing to be an early adopter due to all the ordering challenges.

CNET says this won't impact those with reservations. These phones would have gone to those that show up hoping to buy one without a reservation.

 

[hetrigger]

The grinch who stole X-mas.

Nice!

 

[Syk]

That's a lot of phones. Gonna be some pissed of people at that store, especially if your preorder ship to the store was on that truck but they said preorders would still get theirs. I wonder just how many phones did the store already have. I'm surprised UPS didn't have two riders on that truck, one to haul the stuff and one to watch the truck while the other was away.

 

[xizdun]

People don't realize that a stolen iPhone is not worth $0. As last resort, it can be stripped and sold for its PARTS.

 

[Fox Fisher]

Apple or police should share serials and IMEI’s on stolen phones via internet so people who buying from ebay etc. can check. Most of the phones will be a spare part anyway but still it would be uselful if people can check.

 

[notabadname]

They are off to the iPhone ‘Chop Shop”. They know they cant be sold otherwise. Not even on eBay really. Who would buy a phone of this price from any reseller that doesn’t have a sales history/good seller rating. Any on-line sale creates a paper trail. These phones are going to be parts showing up at your local mall’s iPhone repair Kiosk and installed by that guy with the Ukrainian or Croatian accent.

 

[MTShipp]

Apple is probably going to block the stolen serial numbers on the activation servers.

The thieves will end up with 300 paperweights. I wish I could be a fly on the wall when they figure out their stolen booty is worthless!

Selling them for parts, like many stolen cars do from chop shops, will be a good payday for the thieves. #iChopShop

 

[cerote]

Pretty sure wasn’t hard to figure out. I mean today large majority of UPS trucks will have iPhone on it. And one parked behind Apple, even more so on day before iPhone launch, is going to have large haul in it.

 

[dwaltwhit]

$370k worth of shrink. I guess for Apple that isn’t too horrible. But still with the demand that’s bad.

Shrink wouldn't be that high since it would be based on wholesale rather than retail.
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That's what I was thinking too. This story will be picked up by various news outlets and people will think because of the massive theft, it must be a must-have gadget. And it being on the news spreads awareness that the new iPhone is out.

If this is real, I do feel bad for whoever ends up buying these stolen goods, but at the same time, they should know better and buy directly from the source. I buy direct for peace of mind that it's not counterfeit or stolen.

also to scare off third party buyers

 

[jlc1978]

313 x $999 is a lot of money for a thief (if they manage to sell them all) and that is not including the 256gb model. I guess Apple needs to start their own delivery system.

I doubt the thief gets anywhere near that; it's more likely someone will buy them for pennies on the dollar and sell them on the black market.

 

[Tzerlag]

Seems mean spirited of Apple to punish their fans who didn’t know any better when they purchased the phone on eBay or wherever.

How is Apple punishing anyone?

 

[Studivan]

I think in the end, no one will really take a hit. Once the customer who bought it and tried to unsuccessfully activate it, complains to Apple, Apple will swape it out for them. Apple will then refurbish it and put it back in the system with a new serial number.

If anyone takes a hit, it will probably be UPS, since it was in their possession when stolen. They'll have to pay out insurance to Apple I'd imagine.

 

[JustinKent]

Bingo. The thieves will get their cash, but the poor schmucks that buy them will be stuck holding the bag.

What type of shmuck buys an iPhone X out the back of a white Dodge van without realizing they're getting stolen merchandise? Please.

 

[Studivan]

Well if Apple did that, for every person that bought one of the stolen iPhones then they would be covering the cost of the stolen iPhones now wouldn’t they.
The iPhones were insured during shipment so Apple gets that money back and I’m sure they were insured for more than the shipment was worth and as far as Apple swapping out stolen iPhones, don’t bet on it, they don’t support buying iPhones from eBay, Craigslist, or anyone other than a reputable dealer, AT&T,Sprint,Verizon,Apple, etc.

 

[CEmajr]

People keep mentioning Ebay and craigslist but I doubt they’ll do that. Thieves stealing that type of volume and knew exactly when and where the shipment was most likely planned this well in advance and already have international buyers ready to take them. They’re probably already in a shipment container heading to Asia. This was clearly an inside job .

 

[coolfactor]

Would a money truck ever be left unsupervised? Why was a UPS truck filled with such a high-valued delivery left unsupervised?

 

[Pfunstuff]

You know can track UPS flights. Once it leave Louisville to whatever destination. You'll know when it arrival in your city, so all do it wait after that.

I've been tracking the UPS delivery truck today. Pretty cool seeing how it paths until it makes it to my neighborhood!

 

[just.jon]

What type of shmuck buys an iPhone X out the back of a white Dodge van without realizing they're getting stolen merchandise? Please.

In a previous life in customer service, I dealt with people that did this on a daily basis. Some are just dumb and don't understand the concept of "too good to be true;" others know they are buying stolen goods but think that if they plead ignorance they will be taken care of.

 

[hydro94530]

What type of shmuck buys an iPhone X out the back of a white Dodge van without realizing they're getting stolen merchandise? Please.

These can easily be sold individually on eBay and no one would know where they came from.

 

[Septembersrain]

Considering the level of off duty law enforcement being asked to work through shipments and sales here in San Antonio, I'm surprised they didn't have better security.

I bet from now on they will.

As for if Apple or carrier blocking the IMEI or serial number, I think whoever bought the devices is going to be the most screwed. Hopefully they catch the people red handed before they are able to sell them all.

 

[rpat701]

I guess I’m a little more surprised that one Store was getting 300 Xs

Exactly my thought.

 

[az431]

I guess I’m a little more surprised that one Store was getting 300 Xs

It varies from store to store, but most seem to be getting several hundred phones.

 

[fhall1]

These can easily be sold individually on eBay and no one would know where they came from.

Easily? Ever tried to sell 300,000 of anything on eBay?

 

[killawat]

I've never heard of Apple deactivating stolen phones. It's something that the police have been bugging them about since the beginning, and AFAIK Apple's never implemented that.

Apple never got into the game of recovering customer owned devices because they aren't the police. Even if you walk into an Apple store with a bloodied nose, saying that your new MacBook just got jacked, the perp could show up the next day and make a Genius Bar reservation for it. For right or wrong, they just aren't interesting in it.

This on the other hand might classify as an attack on the supply chain. They will be very interested in figuring out if anyone on the inside had a hand on this. With a take this large, and sensitive, were the perps armed? How long had the surveillance taken place?