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SEC Hack Involves iPhone Swapping, NFL Player's iPad Stolen From Car, 'Porch Pirates' Caught.
The latest in a series of AppleInsider articles looking at the latest Apple-related crimes.
California man arrested for stealing iPhones after delivery
A 29-year-old California man has been arrested and charged with stealing iPhones “worth thousands of dollars” from the doorsteps of people who ordered them.
According to KTLA, Eric Isami Esquivel, 29, of Tustin was arrested after police spotted him “acting suspiciously in the area.” They found several phones they suspected were stolen in the man’s car and 11 more stolen iPhones at his home.
He was charged with grand theft.
Attempted Apple Watch Theft Leads to Man’s Arrest
Dalin Gonzalez-Marte of Philadelphia has been arrested for his role in an attempted armed robbery of an Apple Watch. According to the Mid Hudson News, the man followed the victim home in Connecticut as he picked up a FedEx package containing an Apple Watch from his parents’ home.
Sheriff Kevin McConville of the Sheriff’s Department’s Undercover Narcotics Unit said the suspect “made multiple attempts to stab the victim.”
It’s unclear how the victim avoided being stabbed, but the suspect later fled without the Apple Watch. He was arrested an hour later by New York State Police.
Gonzalez-Marte was booked in New York on a fugitive charge. Because he also has an outstanding arrest warrant in Connecticut for robbery, theft and unlawful restraint, he was held until extradited.
Man arrested for SEC hack charged with incriminating internet search
An Alabama man accused of hacking the Securities and Exchange Commission's X/Twitter account to promote a cryptocurrency scam allegedly faked an iPhone to do so. Eric Council Jr. is also accused of making some incriminating internet searches the day after the hack.
Prosecutors say the conspiracy involved obtaining personal information from an individual with access to an SEC account, creating a fake ID for that individual, and using that ID to obtain an iPhone linked to the official's phone number.
According to Gizmodo, the man's search history included “SECGOV hack,” “wire exchange,” “how can I tell for sure if the FBI is investigating me,” and “What are the signs you're under investigation by law enforcement or the FBI even if they haven't contacted you.”
The federal government has charged the man with conspiracy to commit aggravated identity theft and access device fraud.
NFL player's team-issued iPad stolen
Conor McDermott, who plays for the NFL's Los Angeles Rams, had his car broken into near his home, and his team-issued iPad was among the items stolen. The device contained McDermott's instructions.
CBS reporter Melanie Collins reported on the theft during the game's broadcast, adding that the team was able to remotely wipe the iPad once the instructions fell into the wrong hands.
Melanie Collins with a news report on Rams OT player Conor McDermott having his team-issued iPad stolen.
“Burglar hit five other houses on his street. They haven’t caught the guy yet, but forensics is in the works… Looks like the Rams’ strategy is safe for now.” #NFL pic.twitter.com/tl6hFb0sJj
— Awful Announcement (@awfulannouncing) October 20, 2024
A similar theft occurred in 2018, when then-Chicago Bears forward Roquan Smith had his team iPad stolen from his car. The team also remotely wiped the device.
While Microsoft’s Surface is the official tablet that NFL teams use on the sideline during games, individual teams often issue iPads to their players. And game broadcasters have often mistakenly referred to Surface tablets as “iPads.”
Two Accused Porch Pirates Arrested in Georgia
Two men accused of stealing an iPhone from a Georgia porch have been arrested at a Chick-fil-A restaurant in the state. One of the two men was caught on surveillance video wearing a T-shirt with the unique phrase “God got me.”
The arrest is being considered a possible “big break” in a series of porch thefts in the Atlanta area in recent weeks, according to Fox 5.
Thief Accused of Stealing iPhone Packages Who Dressed as Amazon Driver Arrested
In other porch piracy news, a man who police say posed as an Amazon driver to track and steal packages has been arrested. The man specifically targeted iPhones.
According to Fox 2, the man was using a fake Amazon uniform, which, ironically, is available for purchase on Amazon.
“He would somehow be told where these phones were being delivered and then he would show up shortly after the delivery was made,” said Sergeant Ben Hancock of the Troy Police Department. “He looked just like anyone you would see walking up to your front porch delivering your Amazon package.”
The 23-year-old man, who was in the U.S. illegally, now faces deportation.
Missouri Woman Uses AirTags to Catch Political Law Sign Thieves
A Springfield, Missouri, woman upset that her Harris/Walz signs had been stolen from her lawn multiple times put a tracker on her new sign and managed to catch the people who stole it.
The woman followed the trail home, where it turned out the signs — and more than 50 others — were on the trunk of a car, according to Ozarks First.
“Here’s to you, liberals,” the homeowner told them as she returned the signs. Video of the standoff was posted to TikTok:
A rich guy from Springfield, Missouri, was caught red-handed stealing over 60 Harris/Walz yard signs. pic.twitter.com/gvyiSI5msx
— StrictlyKamala (@StrictlyChristo) October 22, 2024
Man's Stolen iPad Recovered Thanks to 'Buybust Operation'
An Ohio man had his iPad stolen in August after agreeing to sell it in person. But it was recovered in October thanks to the efforts of four different law enforcement agencies.
According to Cleveland 19, the stolen iPad was listed for sale on Facebook Marketplace. So law enforcement agencies including the Medway DEA, Ohio State Highway Patrol, and Doylestown and Norton police teamed up to meet with the seller. This has led to two arrests, although only one person has been charged.
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