Buzz
This action-packed event unfolded at the heart of Alderwood Mall, Lynnwood city, Washington state, USA. Two burglars infiltrated a branch of Seattle Coffee Gear, a chain of coffee machine stores, then tunneled through the restroom wall because just behind it lies the Apple Store at Alderwood Mall, a retailer of Apple tech gadgets.
Police and media sources here report that the thieves snatched 436 iPhones, valued at approximately half a million USD.Seattle Coffee Gear's CEO, Mike Atkinson, shared a photo capturing a restroom with a neatly cut hole overlooking the adjacent Apple Store. The details of this incident indicate that the two thieves had extensive knowledge about the layout of both the coffee machine store and the Apple Store. While on the map, these two shops are indeed adjacent, knowing precisely where to drill through the wall to sneak into the neighboring store requires a wealth of information.https://twitter.com/coffeemikeatkin/status/1643263939642523648As for Seattle Coffee Gear, branch manager Eric Marks stated that the damage amounted to only $1,500. Seattle police have security camera footage but have not yet released it widely as the investigation is ongoing. And the more than 400 stolen iPhones are likely nothing more than bricks now, as Apple can completely track and deactivate any iPhones stolen from this store, similar to how they handle other incidents in the past.Recent reports from international media outlets and television channels suggest a surge in robberies at Apple Stores, driven by the high value of the displayed products. In February, an armed robbery occurred at the Apple Store in Amsterdam, where a man took hostages while attempting to steal Apple products, only to be intercepted by law enforcement. Similarly, last year, a group of seven individuals raided an Apple Store in Palo Alto, California, making off with an estimated $35,000 worth of Apple devices.A former employee who worked at an Apple Store shared on social media that store regulations discourage staff from intervening in robbery attempts, as security personnel are present to handle such situations. In cases where thieves manage to steal and flee, Apple can remotely deactivate the devices and activate Lost Mode as soon as iPhones, iPads, or MacBooks lose connection to the store's WiFi network. Apple aims to ensure that customer experiences in its stores resemble the comfort of handling their own possessions, allowing customers to explore the store freely as long as they remain within its confines. Consequently, Apple Stores have phased out anti-theft tethering since 2016.Source: Techspot
