Caught on Video: Thieves Ransack Apple Store in 31 Seconds
In about the time it takes to send a tweet, five masked men cleaned out a Marlton, New Jersey Apple Store in the wee hours of yesterday morning. It took about 31 seconds for the men to shatter a plate-glass door, sprint inside the store, and collect 23 Macbook Pro laptops, 14 iPhones and 9 iPod touch handhelds, according to The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW). The only way they could've pulled off the heist any faster would be if they'd driven a race car through the store.
There was a security guard on duty during the robbery, but the thieves knew how to work him, too. They motioned at him as if they were holding guns, and, judging by the above video from WPVI-TV in Philadelphia, the guard just cowered in the corner. Who can blame him? Those devices aren't worth his life. Besides, shouldn't Apple install some metal gates in front of those doors? The store front might not look as sleek or hip, but it'd be a lot safer. [From: The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)]
Around Halloween of last year, a truckload of thieves drove into -- that's right, into -- a Pennsylvania Mexican restaurant, where they -- apparently uninterested in the cash register -- stole a mid-grade 47-inch HDTV and fled the scene. We've all heard about how this generation is lacking in ambition, but this generation's thieves, too?
Death of Print
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Christian Science Monitor
Founded in 1908 by Mary Baker Eddy, this venerable paper will move all its daily content to the Web starting in 2009, though it will still publish a weekly print version.
Radar Magazine
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_thumbnail.jpg "Vintage Keyboards")
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
unsuitened said 12:56PM on 9-03-2009
well... the apple store has been robbing people for years, nice to see it the other way around
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Bran said 2:21PM on 9-03-2009
As much as a fanboy of M$ as I am, I dont agree with your comment.
If Apple are dumb enough to have full front glass windows and doors then who can blame them thieves, then to install a fresh set of glass doors is just plain stupid (obviously they need new doors but what about shutters?)
Cant wait for the new M$ stoors to open to see how long it takes thieves to be in and out to compare, this should be good.
jack said 8:46PM on 9-03-2009
You can't be robbed if you don't buy their products. Stupid comment from a liberal who probably lives in a single wide in NJ.
PS. These were professionals.... why? because they broke a plate glass window?
warren garrison said 12:37AM on 9-04-2009
let's hope when you return home tonight, if you go out or at least the next time you return home all of your valuables are gone. When and if the culprits were caught, even though they've already sold all your stuff and you never get anything back they say, "well, other people have stolen from me, I just figured I might as well steal from someone else". Sorry to know I share the planet with people like you.
b e 1 r u 7 said 1:11AM on 9-04-2009
Agreed. This won't even put a dent in Apple. F--k them.
luigi said 8:10PM on 9-03-2009
they make it look so easy, which it is. just smash the glass pick up everything you want, then leave. no one even knows who you are. amazing its so easy to do in these modern times
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michael said 8:28PM on 9-03-2009
stupid thieves, those things cant be used because all the serial numbers are recorded in a data base, how are you supposed to activate a itouch, or iphone, apple will pick it right up..
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jack said 9:07PM on 9-03-2009
yup.... but they must be professionals, because the news said they were..... steal stuff you can't use..... except for door stops..... Police... be on the look out for computer door stops.
CINDY said 9:07PM on 9-03-2009
YOU'RE RIGHT MICHAEL!! THEY DO HAVE SERIAL NUMBERS ! BUT JUST "MAYBE", THERE MIGHT BE AWAY TO GET AROUND THAT. THEY CAN'T BE THAT "STUPID", CAN THEY?? I GUESS, MAYBE THEY CAN. BUT CAN'T THEY MAYBE "STRIP" THEM LIKE PEOPLE DO WITH STOLEN CARS??? JUST TAKE THEM APART, AND SELL THEM FOR THE PIECES??? I GUESS THAT WON'T WORK EITHER!! MAYBE THEY JUST DID IT ON A DARE!!
asaba88 said 11:23PM on 9-03-2009
Uh no they won't. Only if someone goes back to return it or fix it a red flag will go up as stolen. What about the iphones across the world who don't have AT&T services, are they magically going to track them down when they're serviced under another wireless company. Besides, Iphones are unlocked everyday to be used under other services such as T-mobile. Obviously these thieves are a loot smarter than you.
dan said 12:57AM on 9-04-2009
have you ever heard of the black market? you are obviously not from NJ. if you have an iphone you can hack it to take any GSM card. even if you dont want to use it as a phone you can use it for Wi Fi web browsing. learn something before your type.
CRMA said 8:56PM on 9-03-2009
My daughter was just at this store Sun. Aug. 30. She also works at a different Apple Store, this store was not in a mall. She's a little concerned, she shared with me that someone in Virginia opened the door to receive a shipment and someone burst in. Both of us have been to the store in NYC and several Apple stores.
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Ed Walters said 9:03PM on 9-03-2009
These people are nothing more than garbage. i would love to have them in my sights.
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Millerson said 11:31PM on 9-03-2009
"Sights" ... are you a spider with eight eyes, or something? (sites)
jack said 9:11PM on 9-03-2009
seriously? could you be any more wrong? if you don't like their product, then don't buy it.... i'm sure there are plenty of other people in your trailer park that will.
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michael said 9:31PM on 9-03-2009
our right Cindy I didnt even think of the parts aspect of it, but as a non technical person, all i know is i had to register my apple products in order to load them update software, add music etc
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awed said 9:40PM on 9-03-2009
serial numbers? how about lojack for computers?
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mbsafetyservices said 9:45PM on 9-03-2009
The glass windows are the shopping centers look, the computers and other stuff they took won't be used by them. I'm sure they were sold hours after they were taken. It's the poor sap that bought one of these for a "good price" will be the one who ends up "paying". Also this is a small upscale town, they picked the perfect store.
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blablabla said 9:50PM on 9-03-2009
Amazing attitude of some posters here...the GTAuto mentality...No wonder America is flushing itself down the toilet. Why doesn't Washington...just legalize crime ??
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CJ said 9:52PM on 9-03-2009
Keep your eyes open for these items on Ebay!
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