UPS worker charged after $1.3M Apple product theft spree

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Orville Martirez Beltrano was arrested by police in January 22 over allegations that he stole Apple products shipped via his employer, in his role as a local sorting supervisor. After appearing in court, it has since been revealed that the total alleged theft spree was valued at $1.3 million.

Court documents seen by Global News say that Beltrano allegedly took 866 Apple products from the warehouse between July 2023 and January 2024. The products were then claimed to be sold by the man via Kijiji.

An investigation into his bank accounts showed cash deposits totaling more than $232,000 were made between September and January. Search warrants also turned up $9,000 in cash in a Nike bag in his vehicle, a MacBook, and more than $9,100 in jewelry.

It is also alleged that proceeds from the sales were also used to purchase a home in Winnipeg's South Pointe neighborhood for $630,000, and paid off a debt linked to a white Audi valued at $60,000.

At the time of his arrest, he was charged with theft over $5,000, theft under $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, and possession of the proceeds of crime. He later admitted in a taped police interview to stealing Apple products and the jewelry.

The court filings have asked the judge to permit the seizure of the house, car, cash, and bank accounts.

The value of the charges is among one of the highest involving Apple product thefts.

In 2012, a JFK airport employee was arrested for the theft of 3,600 iPad mini packages, valued at $1.9 million. A Walmart distribution center worker was charged in 2017 for stealing over 1,000 iPads and 942 Apple Watch packages, which he hid in delivery trucks before sending them to himself via FedEx.