Apple Store in Emeryville, California
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In this week's Apple crime roundup, the Citizen app uses footage of thefts from Apple Store, Philadelphia Police Department Smartphone App Scandal, Stolen Softball Equipment Found Thanks to AirTag, and More!
Like every other Sunday, this is the latest in AppleInsider's series on the world of Apple crime.
UPS used counterfeit iPhones and AirPods to target employees
United Parcel Service used counterfeit iPhones, AirPods and additional Apple equipment to detain Florida employees suspected of package theft .
According to Boca News Now, citing the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, four men were arrested for their participation in a scheme to “hijack” $52,000 worth of equipment. The scheme involved “ghost labels” intent on delivering stolen phones to Boost Mobile.
After their arrest, the defendants were charged with an organized fraud scheme. The fourth was charged with grand theft, obtaining property by fraud, tampering with physical evidence and trafficking in stolen property.
Citizen app uses footage of the Apple Store theft in online advertising
The Citizen mobile app, which warns its users about security and crime, has begun including footage of a particularly high-profile Apple theft in its online advertising Store.
The ad on X (formerly Twitter) shows a video of a thief grabbing a display iPhone from an Apple Store and running past a police car parked outside the store.
You'll never believe the free local virus alerts on @CitizenApp, but they're all here.
— Citizen (@CitizenApp) April 24, 2024
The theft occurred in February at an Apple Store in Emeryville, California, and the man in the video was arrested shortly after. Local police said the police car shown in the video was a “ghost car” meant to serve as a deterrent and that no officers were at the scene.
Philadelphia police secretly used smartphone app with surveillance cameras, leading to acquittal
The Philadelphia Police Department's narcotics unit used a smartphone app to control pole-mounted surveillance cameras without disclosing the facts, and the same could be said in arrest reports and in court. In addition, the police “fabricated reports, hid video evidence and, in some cases, gave false testimony against innocent people.”
That's according to a Philadelphia Inquirer investigation that first revealed the department's use of an app from vendor Genetic. The Genetic Security Center app is available on the App Store.
Misuse has led to the dismissal of dozens of criminal cases.
Three arrested for buying 'mostly' $13,000 worth of Apple products near mall
San Jose police in late April arrested three suspects, including one juvenile, for the theft of $13,000 worth of stolen goods described as “mostly Apple products.”
The suspects were found near the Valley Fair Mall with the stolen merchandise “either on them or in their vehicle,” according to The San Jose Mercury News.
All three were booked on suspicion of organized retail theft.
Daughter of Mohammed Al -Fayed denies stealing brother's iPhone
Two children of late Egyptian businessman Mohamed al-Fayed are fighting over an iPhone, sparking interest from both the criminal justice system and the British tabloids.
Camilla Fayed has been accused of stealing an iPhone belonging to her brother Omar Fayed from the gym at their family estate, according to The Express. Camille, her husband and two security officers were charged with theft but all pleaded not guilty.
Mohamed al-Fayed died in 2023. His son Dodi died along with Princess Diana in a car accident in 1997.
Amazon employee accused of stealing Apple Watch
An 18-year-old man who worked at Amazon was charged with stealing 36 Apple Watches.
According to WMC, a Tennessee man was caught after Amazon Loss Prevention discovered several empty Apple Watch boxes in their warehouse. Surveillance video shows the man and his accomplices unpacking the merchandise.
He was charged with theft of property between $10,000 and $60,000.
Wanted in Canada suspects in the theft of Apple Watch
Ontario Provincial Police are searching for thieves caught on video stealing $16,000 worth of Apple Watches from a Wellington County store.
According to CTV News, the theft appears to have been carried out by three people, one of whom acted as a lookout:
#wellingtonopp is investigating the theft of over $16,000 worth of @Apple watches from retailer @CentrWellington. If you can help, please call 1-888-310-1122. ^JC @wellingtncounty @CSGWtips pic.twitter.com/XwT4WNESb3
— OPP Western Region (@OPP_WR) March 21, 2024
Stolen softball equipment returned thanks to AirTag
A high school softball team in Texas had their equipment stolen from their bus before a playoff game. But they managed to get their lost items back thanks to AirTag.
According to My San Antonio, police tracked down the equipment and found it in neighboring Odessa. AirTag “has been a huge help in recovering stolen equipment,” police told media outlets.
On May 3, the Keller High School team won a playoff game.
Notorious influencer TikTok Convicted for iPhone Theft in 2022
British TikTok prankster known as “Mizzy” — described by The Daily Mail as a “TikTok menace” — was found guilty of stealing an iPhone 13 Pro Max in the summer of 2022.
According to the newspaper, Mizzy stole a woman's iPhone and was then knocked off his electric bike by a police officer. The Mail describes him as “a well-known social media influencer who became famous for a series of stunts in which he randomly entered people's homes and filmed himself.” However, he has since been banned from posting on the platforms. He will go on trial in July in an unrelated case.
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