Theft Articles on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog

Recent Apple thefts include high-speed NYC chase, Colorado storefront smash-and-grab

by Kelly Hodgkins (May 6th, 2013)

Apple devices keep their value, which makes them an attractive target for thieves. Two recent stories highlight how both individuals and Apple stores are vulnerable to theft. One report involves a movie-like high-speed chase, while the other one features a well-timed smash-and-grab heist. The New ...

Daily Update for May 6, 2013

by Steven Sande (May 6th, 2013)

It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get all the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the inline player (requires ...

Chinese man steals iPhone from bicyclist using chopsticks

by Kelly Hodgkins (Apr 12th, 2013)

A talented thief is making headlines in China after he pickpocketed an iPhone from an unsuspecting bicyclist. What makes the theft newsworthy is his method of stealing -- some careful moves and a single pair of chopsticks. Photos of the theft hit the Internet in China and show a man in a suit ...

Thieves rob Vancouver Apple Store with bear spray

by Kelly Hodgkins (Mar 5th, 2013)

In the US, thieves drop from rooftops and smash cars through storefronts in order to rob an Apple Store. In Canada, they use bear spray. According to a report in the Toronto Sun, three suspects entered the Apple Store in Vancouver's Oakridge Centre and sprayed the store with bear-strength ...

Apple, NYPD working together to locate stolen iPhones, iPads

by Steven Sande (Feb 22nd, 2013)

The New York Post is reporting that the New York Police Department has assigned a team of cops to work with Apple on facilitating the return of stolen iOS devices. The move is in response to widespread theft of popular iPhones and wireless-enabled iPads in the city. The policemen work with ...

Gadget reseller Gazelle works to deter thieves

by Kelly Hodgkins (Nov 28th, 2012)

Thieves who steal iPhones and iPads are going to have a harder time getting rid of their stolen hardware thanks to a new partnership between Gazelle and CheckMEND. According to VentureBeat, Gazelle will soon scan all its trade-in devices against CheckMEND, a service that compiles information on ...

Thieves smash car into Leawood, Kansas Apple Store

by Megan Lavey-Heaton (Oct 12th, 2012)

If you can't strong-arm your way past Apple's security, smash your car into the store instead. That's what someone or a group of people did at the Apple Store in Leawood, Kan., early this morning. Fox 4 from Kansas City reports that police are looking for a suspect or multiple suspects that ...

Steve Jobs' stolen iPad used by street performer

by Kelly Hodgkins (Aug 17th, 2012)

To close out the work week, here is a story from the Mercury News about the late Steve Jobs's iPad and how it landed in the hands of a middle-aged performer known as Kenny the Clown. As the story goes, professional clown Kenneth Kahn was given an iPad by his friend Kariem McFarlin. He thought ...

Undercover 5: the best way to secure and recover a stolen Mac

by Michael Grothaus (Aug 7th, 2012)

A few years ago I wrote about Orbicule's Undercover 4 software. Undercover lets you remotely track and monitor a missing Mac, and can even help you recover your stolen gear. Given the Mac security issues in the news over the last few days, it's worthwhile reviewing some best practices to help ...

Subway iPad theft leaves reporter with broken jaw

by Steven Sande (Jul 29th, 2012)

A new iPad, iPhone or other shiny electronic device is an attractive target for thieves, as Wall Street Journal reporter Rolfe Winkler now knows first-hand. But there are a few simple tactics to reduce your chances of having a device stolen from you, and the mobile industry is looking at ...

Stolen iPhone photos unwittingly posted by Disney cruise ship employee

by Mike Schramm (May 23rd, 2012)

"This is Nelson," says iPhone owner Katy McCaffrey of the picture above, posted on her Facebook. "Nelson has my stolen iPhone." McCaffrey took her iPhone on a Disney Cruise back in April, where the phone was either misplaced or stolen. But it's been found, now. Photo Stream was still running, ...

Apple staffer reportedly stole $16K worth of iPhones

by Mike Schramm (Feb 27th, 2012)

When I worked in retail, I quickly learned all about "loss prevention," which is the program that most retailers undertake to try and (you guessed it) prevent loss or theft of product at whatever store they're running. Customer theft is obviously an issue anywhere you have merchandise sitting out ...

NimbleBit calls out Zynga clone of Tiny Tower

by Mike Schramm (Jan 25th, 2012)

Zynga, which has made its fortune on Farmville, has released an app in Canada (not on the American App Store yet) called Dream Heights, which bears much more than a passing resemblance to Tiny Tower, a terrific and very successful freemium game from NimbleBit (the brothers-run company that we've ...

Apple Store thieves arrested after robbery

by Mike Schramm (Jan 3rd, 2012)

Apple Stores continue to be a target for theft around the United States, apparently -- this time a robbery went down in Scottsdale, Arizona, where a trio of young thieves busted in the glass doors on an Apple Store, and tried to get away with $75,000 worth of Apple devices. The group robbed the ...

Find my iPad saves Christmas

by Mike Schramm (Dec 29th, 2011)

Here's a nice story thanks to Apple's Find my iPad feature. A family in California had their Christmas gifts stolen last week, along with several other items in the home. Seemingly unrelatedly, another man had his iPad stolen soon after, and he called the police to report the theft. He was able ...