Crime And Apple: From Great Theft To Unique Fraud

JAKARTA - Apple, an iconic technology brand, is back in the spotlight not only because of its innovative products, but also because of a series of crimes involving their devices. Starting from major thefts in California and Spain, to creative fraud such as replacing iPhones with sugar, crimes involving Apple products reflect how this technology is the main target.

However, legal steps such as regulatory changes in California show efforts to tighten penalties for these kinds of crimes. Check out a series of interesting stories about crimes involving Apple, ranging from cunning fraud to spectacular theft!

California Tightens Retail Theft Sentence In November 5, 2024, voters in California approved Proposition 36 with support of more than 70%. This proposition dropped some provisions of Proposition 47 of 2014, which previously classified small thefts, burglarys, and some drug crimes as minor offenses.

With this new rule, the crime can again be considered a serious crime, especially if it is committed by three people or more. This change is of concern because of the major theft cases at the California Apple Store in 2018 and 2023, involving a large group of thieves.

The theft at the Apple Store Valencia, Spain In late October, major theft occurred at the Apple Store in Valencia, Spain. The thieves in masks used luxury vehicles to crash into shop windows and steal more than 100 Apple devices, mostly iPhones. This case is the fourth since 2017 at the same location.

An iPhone with Sugar scam in Scotland A man in Scotland is accused of fraud by replacing the iPhone he bought with sugar before returning it to the store. He also used fake phones in several other cases. The 24-year-old admits his actions in three weeks at the end of 2022.

The iPhone Worth IDR 1.4 Billion Stolen from the Connecticut Department of Children and Family In July, nearly 1,700 iPhones were stolen from a locked room in the Connecticut Department of Children and Family. The device, which is worth more than US$87.000 (IDR 1.3 billion), disappeared without any sign of a break-in. Until now, no suspect has been arrested.

AirPods Stolen in Texas, Police Find Drugs and Weapons in Texas, two men were arrested on October 30 after police tracked a stolen AirPods signal into a vehicle. During a search, 19.2 grams of methamphetamine and firearms were found reportedly stolen.

Former Hong Kong Police Convicted of Stealing iPad A former Hong Kong police officer was sentenced to 15 months in prison after stealing some items, including the iPad Air. The device was tracked by the owner to the restaurant, where the thief tried to break the encryption before finally throwing it away.

The theft of the iPhone by Tak Lazim in Arizona A man in Arizona stole the iPhone 16 from arikshop by hiding it in his pants before escaping on a bicycle. His action was caught on surveillance cameras.

Police-Stealed iPhone 14 Pro Max in India A policeman in India lost his iPhone 14 Pro Max while shopping for flowers. He is suspected of being a victim of organized theft, where thieves pretended to hit him to steal the device. This incident raises concerns about security during the festive season.