Sometimes I wonder if the frequent use of the terms "unlock" and "jailbreak" in conversations about the iPhone has caused a cognitive break for people who would otherwise keep to the straight and narrow. Case in point: two New York truckdrivers and an accomplice decided the best way to easy money was to crack open a shipment of 300 iPhones bound for Hong Kong, pull the phones out of the bottom of the shipping crate, throw in some reams of paper for weight and then re-shrinkwrap the package for delivery. Genius!Unfortunately for the three men, the package didn't look quite right to an airline worker in Hong Kong, who alerted cops. The investigation led back to the Baldwin, LI shipping company that had transferred the iPhone crate, and the drivers who had sold the illicit phones (some on Craigslist) for an $80,000 windfall. The men were arrested in possession of $23,000 (quite a bit of cash already gone on luxury splurges) and just about to move to Florida. Per the NY Daily News:
When he was asked about them last week, the truck drivers' boss said, "It's funny you should be asking about them. They just resigned."
No kidding. I think we've all learned something today... first, if you're going to replace packaged iPhones with something, rock beats paper. Second, 300 iPhones in a crate going to Hong Kong, where they aren't officially on sale? Maybe those 30% unlock estimates aren't so wacky after all.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-25-2008 @ 8:39AM
Crzy4777 said...
HaHa!! that is my home town... only baldwin would do such a thing!
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1-25-2008 @ 4:27PM
vectorelement said...
Baldwin: -1
Freeport: +1
Go Freeport!!
1-25-2008 @ 8:40AM
Dwayne said...
:-) Amusing....yes iPhones are VERY popular over here in Hong Kong - just about ever 2nd person I know has one, and yes they are all jailbroken etc. You can buy them in the shops here and have them 'fixed' for you while you wait. All of the mobile providers will support them bar the visual voicemail and specific stuff. The bitter irony to this popularity is that we have a very healthy 3G network here, but no 3G iphone. 2nd irony? Both the iPod Touch and iPhone are popular, and we still dont have an iTunes store here!!!! Ack.....so very annoying!!!
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1-25-2008 @ 8:48AM
Michael said...
Yep, I live in Hong Kong too, and know plenty of people with iPhones. There's definately nothing in the shipment to be alerted about.
1-25-2008 @ 9:40AM
Bobby Trif said...
Out of curiosity...What does an iPhone sell for in Hong Kong? "fixed" or otherwise?
1-25-2008 @ 10:10AM
Johnny said...
I'm also curious as to why the phones were coming from New York. As far as I know, they're made in Asia. I would think by the time they get to NY, they are only the phones meant to sell in NY. Hey Apple, I know where at least 300 of your missing iPhones went.
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