Crime blotter: Two New York City assaults and Pencil pinching

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

Man found guilty of iPhone theft, assault of woman

A Staten Island man was convicted at the end of February on several counts, in a case in which he was accused of assaulting a woman, stealing her iPhone, and head-butting and kicking her in the process.

According to SI Live, the 40-year-old man was convicted of robbery in the second degree, assault in the second degree, assault in the third degree, petit larceny, and criminal possession of stolen property in the fifth degree. The crimes had taken place in January of 2022, and sentencing is set for early April.

iPhone, Apple Watch stolen from 84-year-old woman in mugging

In another case of a violent theft in New York City, police are looking for a man who they say injured an 84-year-old woman while stealing her purse, which contained both an iPhone and an Apple Watch.

According to local news site QNS the man, described as a "brute," "forcibly removed the elderly woman's purse from her shoulder, before fleeing the scene on foot."

Apple Pencils stolen by a woman with three juveniles

Three Apple Pencils were stolen from the Apple Store at the Short Hills Mall in New Jersey, by a woman who had three juveniles with her, per Patch.

The four people took the items without paying, and then "fought with security," the report said. A "suspect vehicle" was later found and impounded, in connection with the thefts.

Pro golfer has iPad, other items stolen at tournament

A PGA tour golfer had $15,000 in items stolen from a tournament in Florida, including an iPad — and a concession stand worker was later arrested for the thefts, reports The Palm Beach Post.

Golfer Adrian Meronk competed at the Honda Classic in Palm Beach in early March, only to discover he had been robbed of items left in the locker room. Among the items stolen were his iPad and a Trackman device.

Later, a 40-year-old man who had worked at the tournament was later charged with burglary to an unoccupied structure unarmed and larceny-grand theft.

Hunter Biden sues Delaware computer store owner

In the latest twist in the saga of Hunter Biden's laptop, the president's son has sued the owner of a Delaware computer shop who handed the computer over to political opponents of Hunter's father.

According to Semafor, Hunter Biden has sued John Paul Mac Isaac of The Mac Shop, claiming the shop owner "invaded his privacy" and "didn't have the right to copy his data." Mac Isaac had sued the younger Biden in 2022, claiming that he had been defamed.

"From whatever the source, the material he then provided to others included photos of Mr. Biden using drugs, without clothes, and involved in intimate relations with other adults," the suit said, per Semafor.

Hotel manager accused of stealing Apple Watch, AirPods

A hotel manager in Evansville, Ind., was arrested at the beginning of March and charged with stealing items, including AirPods and an Apple Watch, from a guest. WEVV reports the woman later tried to sell the items on Facebook.

The victim of the theft had spotted his Apple Watch for sale on Facebook Marketplace and recognized the seller's name as the manager of the hotel. Also, he was able to find both items by tracking them. The Apple Watch turned up at the hotel manager's home, and the AirPods were at a gas station, where the manager was pumping gas.

iPad, other items stolen from UConn basketball players

While the University of Connecticut men's basketball team was practicing before their NCAA Tournament game on Thursday, several items were stolen from the team's bus.

According to CBS Sports, the thefts took place with the team in Las Vegas ahead of their game in the Sweet 16 round. One player on the team had his iPad stolen, while a team manager lost his laptop, and clothes were taken as well.

The same day, per the report, the Huskies had to vacate their Las Vegas hotel after discovering "dirt and vomit" in their rooms.

Police called after porn found on elementary school laptop

At an elementary school in Delaware County, Pa., "possible indecent and sexually explicit photos" were found on the iPad of a student, per the Delaware County Times.

The discovery led to a call to the police, who seized the iPad and deleted the photo.

Accused iPad thief caught after changing Apple ID to his own

A tavern in Portland, Ore., had an iPad stolen in a recent break-in.

But they were able to track down the device after the accused thief tried to change the Apple ID on the device to his own. According to KGW, they were also able to track the address of the iPad, leading police to the suspect. The man had also been spotted on one of the business' 16 security cameras.

"Tuk tuk" driver in Thailand accused of not returning iPhone

The driver of a "tuk tuk," the rickshaw taxis that are popular in Thailand, has been charged with failing to return an iPhone left in the vehicle by a Swedish tourist.

According to The Phuket News, the tourist realized her iPhone 14 Pro Max was missing. Once she notified police, they traced the device to a hotel, where the phone was hidden behind a cushion in the tuk tuk.