Crime blotter: Arrest made in theft of 280 iPhones

Apple products are attractive crime targets, and their ubiquity makes them ever-present in other crimes. In this week's roundup, the mastermind of a massive iPhone theft ring has been arrested, a London man filmed and published an attempted iPhone theft, and more!

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

Arrest made in April theft of 280 iPhones in New Jersey

A New Jersey man has been arrested for what police say was his part in the robbery of 280 iPhones worth around $117,000 on April 18.

According to New Jersey 101.5, the theft occurred at United Tower Associates, a wholesale electronics store. Two men got out of a gold minivan and broke a window using a hammer and pry bar.

Automated License Plate Reader technology was used to trace the car to the 28-year-old man, who was arrested and charged with burglary, theft, possession of burglar tools, criminal mischief and two counts of conspiracy.

Phone belonging to the man who shot Trump was not an iPhone

Following the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump on July 13, there was the usual controversy about the suspect's smartphone and whether law enforcement would be able to crack it.

A series of news reports, as well as statements from the FBI, indicated that the government was able to get into the phone relatively quickly, making a fight over encryption unnecessary.

While nearly a week passed without any information over what type of phone had been obtained from Thomas Matthew Crooks, the now-deceased man named by authorities as the attempted assassin, Bloomberg News reported July 18 that the phone was "a newer Samsung model that runs Android's operating system."

The report said authorities used the Cellebrite software to access the phone. While the local FBI bureau had a Cellebrite license, it did not work with that device. Cellebrite then provided a software update, which included "additional technical support and new software that was still being developed."

CBS News has reported that a "secondary cell phone" was found at Crooks' home, but that device has not been identified.

London man films attempted iPhone theft

A 23-year-old London man who works as a musician was filming on July 4 when a hooded bike rider approached him and tried to take his iPhone. Jonas Yoo uploaded the video of the incident to TikTok:

Stolen Apple Watch leads to the arrest of three suspects in Boston barbershop robbery

A Boston SWAT team investigating the armed robbery of a barbershop was able to make arrests after tracing a stolen Apple Watch to the suspects' hideaway.

According to The Boston Herald, police followed the signal to a location in the city's Dorchester section, where they saw the car from the robbery. Police moved in, arrested two suspects, and "used gas and flashbangs" to get the third suspect out.

In addition to the Apple Watch and a large amount of cash, the barbershop robbers took "a gun, gold chains, wallets, debit cards [and] rings," the newspaper said.

Suspect sentenced in Walmart Apple Watch thefts

In other Apple Watch theft news, a Michigan man was sentenced to four years in prison for his part in the October 2023 theft of thousands of dollars in Apple Watches from a Wisconsin Walmart.

According to Fox 11 Online, the man pleaded no contest to charges of robbery with use of force and retail theft. The other two suspects in the crime received similar sentences a month earlier.

Pickpockets stole credit card from restaurant, later used it at Apple Store in Nashville

A woman has been caught on surveillance video pickpocketing another woman in downtown Nashville, stealing a credit card from her purse and later trying to use it at an Apple Store.

According to WSMV, the woman whose card was stolen didn't even notice anything was amiss until she received a call from her credit card company, notifying her that someone was trying to make a large purchase at the downtown Apple Store.

Man arrested for stealing iPhone from Florida real estate office

A 31-year-old from Florida has been arrested for stealing an iPhone from a Berkshire Hathaway real estate office. Per WFLA, the man posed as a potential homebuyer, after which he took the iPhone and hid it in sales brochures.

The Naples Police Department tracked the iPhone to a boutique, where they found the man and he was arrested.

Suspect sought in Louisiana iPad theft

Police in Lafayette, La., are seeking a suspect who they say stole an iPad Pro from a local Best Buy in July.

According to Lafayette Crime Stoppers, the man cut a cable in the display and took the iPad Pro.

Massachusetts man accused of stealing iPhone and iPad

A Massachusetts man who formerly worked as a chiropractor was arrested after he was caught on security video stealing an iPad and iPhone from a local church.

According to The Sun Chronicle, the theft took place in April, and members of the church recognized the man on security video as "Dr. Gene." The man also faces separate charges for breaking and entering.