Apple Store in Valencia, Spain
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The state that has seen two of the biggest Apple Store theft rings in recent years will toughen penalties for retail theft, with one scammer swapping iPhones for sugar.
The latest in a series of AppleInsider articles on Apple-related crimes.
Prop 36 Passes Overwhelmingly in California
On Election Day, November 5, California voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot question called Proposition 36, which would repeal some provisions of Proposition 47, which passed in 2014 and classified some shoplifting, burglary, and drug crimes as misdemeanors instead of felonies.
The new measure, which passed with more than 70 percent of the vote, according to NBC Los Angeles, means that in some cases, those crimes will again be classified as felonies.
The measure also creates harsher penalties if three or more people commit a crime together, which is what happened to two major Apple store thefts in the state, the first in 2018 and the second in 2023.
Apple Store Robbery in Spain
In terms of Apple Store robberies, one such crime was reported in Valencia, Spain, in late October.
According to InSpain News, “masked thieves” stormed the store on the morning of October 28, smashing through the store window in a “high-end car” and making off with more than 100 Apple devices, mostly iPhones. The thieves, who escaped in an Audi and another high-end car, carried out an “alunizaje,” as ramming attacks are called in Spain.
It was at least the fourth major theft at the location since 2017.
Scammer accused of replacing iPhone with sugar for fraudulent return
A man in Scotland attempted to commit a scam that involved buying an iPhone and returning it. However, the scams involved replacing the device with an item of similar weight, such as a bag of sugar, and in other cases, a counterfeit phone.
TheAlloa Advertiser reports that the 24-year-old man admitted to the thefts, which took place over three weeks in late 2022.
Nearly 1,700 iPhones Stolen From Connecticut Department of Children and Families
In July, 1,689 iPhones were stolen from a locked room at the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (CDCF). It was a room that only a limited number of employees had access to.
According to Inside Investigator, the stolen iPhones were valued at $87,260. As of the publication of the report on November 5, there have been no arrests in the thefts.
Stolen AirPods Lead to Arrest in Texas
Two men were arrested in Texas on October 30 after police tracked a bag containing stolen AirPods to drugs and a stolen gun.
CBS Austin explains that police followed the signal to a car where two men were standing, claiming to have found the duffel bag on the street. However, a search turned up 19.2 grams of methamphetamine, as well as the stolen firearm.
One man was charged with manufacturing and supplying a controlled substance. The other was charged with possession of a controlled substance, theft of a firearm and unlawful possession of a weapon.
Former Hong Kong cop gets 15 months for iPad theft
A 31-year-old former Hong Kong police officer has been given 15 months in prison for stealing several items, including an iPad Air and jewellery.
According to the South China Morning Post, “Hui Ho-shing admitted to stealing out of 'greed'. He was caught after the owner of the iPad tracked the device to a restaurant.
Hui also “attempted to decrypt the stolen iPad and checked its contents before discarding the device.”
Man Accused of Stealing iPhone from Cricket Store, Stuffing It Down His Pants
On November 7, a man from Arizona reportedly walked into a Cricket store, took an iPhone 16, and stuffed it down his pants before leaving the store.
Maricopa police say the theft and stuffing of the pants were captured on surveillance video. The man then rode away from the store on a bicycle.
iPhone stolen from constable in India
An iPhone 14 Pro Max belonging to a constable in India was stolen on October 31 by “miscreants” while he was out shopping for flowers, News Karnataka reported.
According to the report, the man was pushed and initially thought it was an accident. But after five minutes, he checked and realized his iPhone was missing.
According to the report, the incident “has raised concerns about safety in public places during the festive season.”
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