A pair steals again their automotive with the assistance of an AirTag, a TV reporter retrieves her stolen iPhone from an ecoATM, and a complete airline crew’s suspension after an iPhone theft characteristic on this week’s Apple Crime Blotter.
The newest in an occasional AppleInsider sequence, wanting on the world of Apple-related crime.
Los Angeles looting adopted decline of Apple Retailer thefts
The Apple Tower Theatre in Los Angeles was looted on June 10, amid the protests towards ICE raids within the metropolis which have led to the deployment of the Nationwide Guard by the president.
As typically occurs with such thefts, messages appeared on the stolen iPhones warning thieves to return them to the Apple Retailer.
Alarms blaring on a number of iPhones that had been taken from the Apple retailer in downtown LA
Shows on the units learn
“Please return to Apple Tower Theatre
This gadget has been disabled and is being tracked. Native authorities shall be alerted.” pic.twitter.com/rhMiaRXA9z— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) June 10, 2025
There have been quite a few high-profile Apple Retailer thefts in California through the years, together with prolific theft rings in 2018 and 2022, and a viral theft in early 2024 wherein a person stealing iPhones from the Emeryville Apple Retailer close to Oakland ran previous a parked police automotive.
Nevertheless, studies of Apple Retailer thefts, in California and elsewhere, had appeared to sluggish to a trickle within the first half of 2025. In late 2024, California voters passed Proposition 36, which stiffened penalties for retail theft, particularly when three or extra individuals dedicated that crime collectively.
iPhone theft in London results in chase, seize
After a person stole a girl’s iPhone in East London and fled on an e-bike, the Metropolitan Police chased the man for 14 minutes and finally apprehended him.
In accordance with The BBC, “officers used the gadget’s monitoring capabilities to find and monitor the suspect.”
Couple used AirTag to “steal again” their Jaguar
Elsewhere in London, a pair whose car was stolen used an AirTag to trace down and get it again, after police had been “too pressed” to assist them.
In accordance with The BBC, the Jaguar was stolen on June 3 from Hammersmith, telling them that an AirTag had been left on the automotive. However after receiving a “imprecise” response, the couple tracked down and retrieved the automotive themselves.
The automotive had an immobilizer code, though after they received the automotive again, the code did not work, requiring a name to a software program firm.
The same old recommendation from legislation enforcement is to keep away from the temptation of confronting a thief after monitoring them with an AirTag, because of the extreme threat to non-public security.
NBC reporter tracks down her stolen iPhone from a kiosk
Ellison Barber, an NBC Information reporter, had her iPhone stolen on the New York Metropolis subway, and later used her work phone to trace the gadget to an ecoATM machine.
Utilizing Find My iPhone and bringing alongside a digicam crew, Barber tracked the iPhone to an ecoATM kiosk in a check-cashing retailer, the place the thief had presumably returned it for money. The NYPD was capable of efficiently retrieve Barber’s telephone.
Man wished for stealing 32 Mac mini units
The Mac mini is much from probably the most often-stolen Apple product, however in mid-Could, greater than $100,000 worth of them had been stolen in Memphis.
In accordance with WREG, a person confirmed up at DHL Categorical, impersonating the one that was supposed to select up packages containing 32 Apple Mac mini computer systems, which had been meant for supply to an IT firm.
The person in query stays at giant.
Complete flight crew suspended after iPhone theft
An Indonesian airline has suspended an entire flight crew after a passenger’s iPhone disappeared, and was later tracked to the lodge the place the crew was staying. The iPhone later ended up on the backside of a river in Australia, the place the flight had landed.
In accordance with One Mile at a Time, the story has gone viral in Indonesia, after the iPhone proprietor posted in regards to the saga to Instagram.
The proprietor of the iPhone had tracked the iPhone to the lodge, and really drove there to analyze. A search of the lodge and close by areas didn’t discover the telephone, though it was tracked to “the center of the Yarra River,” hours after the crew left the lodge.
iCloud proof contradicts protection for man accused of deadly highway rage taking pictures
A person accused of the fatal shooting of a sports activities reporter in a January highway rage incident close to Kansas Metropolis has been arrested. Whereas the accused stated throughout questioning that he doesn’t personal a gun, proof gleaned from his iCloud account confirmed images of him holding a 9 mm handgun.
In accordance with Regulation and Crime, the accused shooter claimed the gun belonged to a buddy, however was unable to recollect the buddy’s identify.
The deceased, 50-year-old Dennis Sharkey Jr., was a journalist who coated native sports activities within the space. The alleged shooter, Ruslan Huseynov, has been charged with second-degree homicide, illegal use of a weapon, and armed prison motion.
Ice Dice claimed TSA stole his iPad
Hip-hop legend and actor Ice Dice said on X on Friday that the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) stole his iPad.
Bitch simply had the nerve to depart a TSA test bag slip the place they it stolen from. One other soiled authorities company. SMGDH https://t.co/N4LIGT8kSP
— Ice Dice (@icecube) June 13, 2025
Not lengthy after, the rapper, whose actual identify is O’Shea Jackson, posted that the iPad had been recovered.
AirTag results in arrest of boat mechanic
The theft in Florida of a trailer and a number of boat motors, which had been geared up with an Airtag, has led to the arrest of a ship mechanic after the AirTag sign was adopted to his residence.
NBC Miami studies {that a} search of the 58-year-old man’s residence turned up extra stolen gadgets.
He was arrested and charged with a sequence of crimes, together with grand theft of a automobile, grand theft, possession of a vessel with no hull identification, and possession of an outboard motor with an altered serial quantity.