A major theft ring targeting Halloween crowds in downtown Austin has come to light after police recovered more than 100 stolen iPhones earlier this month. The discovery gives investigators new insight into an organized pickpocketing network that operated during one of the city’s busiest weekends.
Phones Found After Weekend Surge in Thefts
The Austin Police Department said officers from the Downtown Area Rapid Response Team (DARRT) recovered the large batch of devices while investigating a coordinated scheme that targeted festival-goers and party attendees. According to officials, the thieves focused on busy streets and packed venues, where stolen phones could disappear quickly.
Since then, police have posted photos of recovered lock screens and urged victims to file official reports. The department hopes this step will help identify owners and speed up the return of devices. Officers noted that people should check their accounts, especially if they were in the downtown district during Halloween weekend.
Global Cases Highlight Rise in Apple-Related Crimes
While Austin officers deal with the aftermath of local thefts, other Apple-related crime stories have surfaced worldwide. In Ireland, a businessman was sentenced to more than seven years in prison for a “zombie iPhone” fraud scheme involving more than £10 million worth of devices. Authorities say he exchanged fake or unusable phones for genuine ones, then shipped them overseas for resale.
Meanwhile, police in the U.K. charged a suspect for stealing £30,000 worth of iPhones from an Apple Store in Essex, and officers in California arrested two men attempting to snatch an iPhone 17 Pro Max from a store in Irvine.
Digital Tracking Creates New Leads
Technology has also played a key role in recent investigations. In Kenya, a social media creator tracked his stolen iPhone’s location across multiple cities and into Uganda, illustrating how digital tools can offer clues even when recovery is unlikely.
