Atlanta thefts, ax-wielding iPhone sales, and Josh Brolin in the Apple Crime Blotter

The latest in an occasional series, looking at the world of Apple-related crime.

Woman arrested for identify fraud at Massachusetts Apple Store

A woman from New Hampshire was arrested at an Apple Store in Cambridge, Mass., where she was attempting to pick up a $2,000 order that police say was purchased using a stolen credit card.

According to The New Hampshire Union Leader, the 24-year-old woman is accused of stealing another woman's identity and using that person's credit card for purchases. The woman was charged with receiving stolen property over $1,200, identity fraud, larceny over $1,200, and possession of a false Registry of Motor Vehicles document.

iPhone seller accused of wielding ax at buyer

A third party iPhone sale in Ohio went awry in early October, allegedly leading one of the parties to wield an ax at the other. Cleveland.com reports one man arranged to purchase an iPhone from the other, but when the buyer tried to put a SIM card in the phone, the seller grabbed the money and ran away.

But when the buyer went to speak to the seller, the latter man "became aggressive and was carrying an ax." The seller also claimed that the buyer "was rude to his mother," although he was not able to produce promised surveillance footage of the incident.

The kerfuffle ended with the buyer refusing to come to a police station to unlock the iPhone because "I don't trust you guys."

Over 2,000 iPads have been stolen from New York students

The Department of Education in New York City purchased 300,000 iPads for distance learning this year, but nearly 2,000 of them have been reported stolen, according to a report by NY1. The iPads were not all stolen at once, but some were stolen by package thieves.

The DOE has said that they will replace the iPads at no cost, although one woman said there have been delays in the replacements.

Man charged with iPad thefts from college in Minnesota

A 52-year-old Minnesota man was charged with third-degree burglary for his alleged part in the theft of several iPads from the campus of Bemidji State University. According to LPTV, the man was caught on surveillance video.

NFL player has team iPad stolen from car

A team-issued iPad belonging to Hayden Hurst of the Atlanta Falcons was stolen from Hurst's car shortly after a game in late October. TMZ writes a window was broken in Hurst's car, and a bag, including the iPad and a pair of Beats headphones, was taken.

Hurst went on to tweet a photo of the break-in:

It's not clear if the iPad had any proprietary team information on it, or if the team was able to remotely wipe it. The same thing has happened with NFL players before, including Jabrill Peppers, then of the Cleveland Browns and Peyton Barber of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in 2019, and to the Chicago Bears' Roquan Smith, in 2018.

Josh Brolin's iPad stolen from car

Hayden Hurst wasn't the only well-known person to recently lose an iPad in a car break-in in Atlanta. Actor Josh Brolin lost his iPad, plus a laptop, after his car was burglarized in Atlanta's Buckhead section at the beginning of November.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports the items were stolen from the No Country For Old Men star's car while it was parked outside a HomeGoods store.

MacBook Pro stolen from kid-owned popsicle company

In yet another Atlanta-based theft, a beloved vegan popsicle company owned by three young siblings had a MacBook Pro stolen from their car. According to 11 Alive, the family launched a GoFundMe to help recoup the cost of the stolen computer.

It's unclear if those Atlanta thefts are connected.

"Serial deadbeat tenant" also accused of stealing iPhone and iPads

A Pennsylvania man accused of using a stolen identity to live rent-free in multiple apartments is also accused of opening wireless accounts to illegally purchase iPhones and iPads. The Allentown Morning Call writes the man bought the identities from the dark web and used them to buy an Audi SUV, and also bought gift cards and obtained cash advances from banks.

Man accused of stealing iPhone, cash, booze from Staten Island bar

A man has been arrested for stealing several items, including an iPad, $250 in cash, and a bottle of booze, from a popular Staten Island bar- and the same man is also accused of coming back two nights later and throwing a rock through the bar's window. According to Staten Island Live, the man was charged with felony counts of burglary and attempted burglary, and also misdemeanor counts of stolen-property possession, petit larceny, criminal mischief, and criminal trespass.

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