An Apple Store fraud suspect is arrested, AirTags lead to arrests in Texas and Georgia, and a fake Instagram store offers iPhones in India in this week's Apple Crime Blotter.
The latest in an occasional AppleInsider series, looking at the world of Apple-related crime.
California Highway Patrol finds $200,000 in stolen Apple products in stop
In a Los Angeles traffic stop in early October, the California Highway Patrol nabbed $200,000 worth of Apple products.
Per CBS News, CHP had received a "be on the lookout" alert for a white van that was earlier involved in a burglary in Sparks, Nev. The suspects had broken into a commercial vehicle at a truck stop and taken the items.
Two people were arrested for the thefts. According to the The Los Angeles Times, the products originated in Arizona.
Bay Area Apple Store fraud suspect arrested
A man suspected of a series of fraudulent purchases at Apple Stores in the Bay Area has been arrested.
Marin Independent Journal reports the crimes date back to late August, when someone used a woman's credit card to purchase products at a San Francisco Apple Store. A detective recognized the suspect in video footage from a different investigation, leading to a search of the man's residence.
In that search, per the report, detectives found "approximately 50 unopened Apple products, 50 counterfeit ID cards, a laminator and a color scanner." The man was booked in Marin County Jail on fraud and theft charges.
Musician uses AirTags to track and recover stolen violins
An Atlanta-based musician named Alex Ahn had thousands of dollars worth of musical instruments stolen after his car, containing the instruments, was taken.
According to Fox 5 Atlanta, Ahn had AirTags on the electric violins and followed their location. They ended up at a Guitar Center location, where Ahn appeared and confronted a man who was trying to sell the stolen violins to the store.
Police later arrived and arrested the man, charging him with theft by receiving stolen property. Ahn got his violins back in time for a performance the following night.
AirTag on truck leads to Dallas chop shop
A Dallas woman in late October had her truck stolen from her apartment complex. But after she followed an AirTag in the truck, it led to a "chop shop" that recovered not only her truck, but several other stolen vehicles.
According to NBC DFW, the bust led to the arrests of four men on felony theft charges, with a fifth also arrested on unrelated charges.
Man arrested for AirTag stalking
In a much less-pleasant AirTag-related story, an Illinois man was arrested in late October and charged with aggravated stalking, after a woman discovered AirTags in her purse and car. The man was identified as the woman's estranged husband.
The Telegraph reports the placement of the AirTags came in violation of an order of protection the previous month, which had been extended twice more.
Man robbed of AirPods outside of AutoZone
A California man on October 28 was assaulted by two men and robbed of his AirPods at knifepoint, outside of an AutoZone location.
According to VVNG, the investigation remains open.
Woman accused of trying to sell stolen iPad back to owner
A woman in Oregon has been arrested for using a stolen iPad to contact its owner and offer to sell the device back to its owner for $80. KVAL explains the woman showed up for the planned meetup with police.
The woman was arrested and charged with theft and parole violation charges. The man who accompanied her to the park was also cited and released.
Three in India stole iPhones to "impress girlfriend"
In the Bengaluru region of India, three individuals have been arrested for stealing iPhones, in order to "fund their lavish lifestyle and impress a girlfriend."
Per The Hans India, the three people were a couple and their friend, and they broke into two different "high-end mobile showrooms," to steal iPhone 17 units. Police, after making arrests, discovered "25 iPhones and a luxury watch."
Delhi man arrested for fake Instagram store iPhone scam
Also in India, a man has been arrested for running an Instagram-based store that claimed it was selling iPhones at discounted prices.
The store, per The Statesman, was called "delhi_apple_store0." Those attempting to buy iPhones from the store were charged fees for various false pretexts, including "warranty, border tax, and shipping fees," before the store stopped responding.
The "mastermind" was arrested after a technical analysis and raid, the report said.
