Thieves Tunnel Through Coffee Shop Wall to Steal $500,000 in iPhones From Washington Apple Store

[MacRumors]

An Apple Store at the Alderwood Mall was burgled last weekend, with thieves infiltrating the location through a nearby coffee shop. According to Seattle's King 5 News, thieves broke into Seattle Coffee Gear, went into the bathroom, and cut a hole in the wall to get to the Apple Store backroom.

The burglars were able to bypass the Apple Store's security system by using the adjacent coffee shop, stealing a total of 436 iPhones that were worth around $500,000.

According to Seattle Coffee Gear manager Eric Marks, the coffee shop is not noticeably adjacent to the Apple Store because of the way that the store is laid out. "I would have never suspected we were adjacent to the Apple Store, how it wraps around I mean," Marks told King 5 News. "So, someone really had to think it out and have access to the mall layout."

https://twitter.com/x/status/1643263939642523648

Police were able to obtain surveillance footage of the theft, but as it is part of an active investigation, it has not yet been released. Nothing was stolen from the coffee shop, but it will cost $1,500 to replace locks and repair the bathroom wall.

No employees were at the Apple Store when the theft happened as the Alderwood Mall had closed for the night. An Alderwood spokesperson said they were working with the police to solve the incident, but Apple has not yet commented.

Article Link: Thieves Tunnel Through Coffee Shop Wall to Steal $500,000 in iPhones From Washington Apple Store

 

[sdf]

It's like an alternate reality (and awful) Ocean's 11.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

To me, it most definately seems like it's an inside job. Everything is pretty much caught on the surveillance video.

 

[Logic368]

Lol like A GTA mission. Success!

 

[Realityck]

So, someone really had to think it out and have access to the mall layout."

Hope they catch the thieves. Shouldn't been able to achieve that, just cutting a hole through the wall.

 

[sorgo †]

Looks like Apple relaxed…

 

[NY Guitarist]

Can Apple just lock these phones so they can't be used?

 

[bitcloudrzr]

It's like an alternate reality (and awful) Ocean's 11.

Life imitates art.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Can Apple just lock these phones so they can't be used?

I'm pretty sure these iPhones are traceable and they do become useless once stolen (Serial #, IMEI #, etc). But how can someone carry almost 500 iPhones? That's the main question!

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

I hate the fact they left the 🚽 Toilet Seat wide open. No consideration! They could have closed it. 😭😭

 

[JosephAW]

Yet no one from Apple has tunneled through the wall to steal coffee. Have you seen the price of coffee these days?

 

[kolebee]

Stealing iPhones seems dumb because they're only worth the parts value (they'll be locked from activating), and you're definitely going to get caught.

Maybe Apple will decide to pay their neighboring vendors to install security alarms.

 

[phenste]

To me, it most definately seems like it's an inside job. Everything is pretty much caught on the surveillance video.

what exactly does have to gain from this…?

 

[bitcloudrzr]

I'm pretty sure these iPhones are traceable and they do become useless once stolen (Serial #, IMEI #, etc). But how can someone carry almost 500 iPhones? That's the main question!

We just have to be on the lookout:

 

[Realityck]

I'm pretty sure these iPhones are traceable and they do become useless once stolen (Serial #, IMEI #, etc). But how can someone carry almost 500 iPhones? That's the main question!

Remember this story and thats only 300.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/man-robbed-after-buying-300-iphones-from-apple-fifth-avenue.2371986/

 

[JosephAW]

Unfortunately Apple can't track where these phones are because that would be violating their own terms of service like their AirTags, Apple has explicitly stated that you can't use these devices to track someone.

 

[Realityck]

Unfortunately Apple can't track where these phones are because that would be violating their own terms of service like their AirTags, Apple has explicitly stated that you can't use these devices to track someone.

How can there be terms of service if they were not sold yet?

 

[BellSystem]

Hope they catch the thieves. Shouldn't been able to achieve that, just cutting a hole through the wall.

What did you think? They were going to build Fort Knox? It’s a retail stock room…they are all like this. It’s not a bank.

 

[cdsapplefan]

Unfortunately Apple can't track where these phones are because that would be violating their own terms of service like their AirTags, Apple has explicitly stated that you can't use these devices to track someone.

Oh Apple is most certainly able to track these and fully disable these phones remotely. They can really only sell these for parts, cause it will not be a workable phone 📱

 

[Black Magic]

I doubt the thieves would use them. They will just sell them and take the profits. If Apple has the serials for the inventory they will be blocked. Thieves will just profit and not get caught.

 

[KaliYoni]

This sounds like a boring but successful sequel to

Small Time Crooks (2000) ⭐ 6.7 | Comedy, Crime

1h 34m | PG

www.imdb.com

 

[cthompson94]

Unfortunately Apple can't track where these phones are because that would be violating their own terms of service like their AirTags, Apple has explicitly stated that you can't use these devices to track someone.

Why would they need to track them? Those thieves have probably split up locations of those phones and isn't worth it I am sure they have insurance and they also have the IMEI, serial number, everything to blacklist the phones and make it so they can't activate them. The real victim are those people who are going to be fooled by "brand new" iphone and not know (and I would say the coffee shop too). Hopefully they can get the IMEI uploaded quick so potential buyers can do their own due diligence

 

[Tech Haven]

I think we all have the same question: what'd that guy's wife do later that night on the way to the grocery store?

 

[Lakersfan74]

No video or suspect information. Hmm.

 

[Junior117]

The things some people do to steal iPhones...

This is coming straight out of Mission Impossible or something.