Thieves Clear Out NJ Apple Store In 31 Seconds

theodp writes "An amazing surveillance tape of a burglary in progress at a New Jersey Apple Store shows five perps in masks smashing the plate-glass doors at 2:05 a.m., signaling to the security guard that they had a gun, and clearing off the display tables with the efficiency of a Indy 500 pit crew. The take: 23 MacBook Pros, 14 iPhones and 9 iPod touches in 31 seconds flat. Estimated value, based on average selling price: $46,345. No word yet on whether Microsoft's Laptop Hunters have alibis."

Gone in 31 seconds

[gmuslera]

They got iphones there... How much time till they get located by GPS like in this case [softpedia.com].

Not sure if still unsold iphones are somewhat in MobileMe or something like that as extra security.

Re:Amazing?

[zygotic mitosis]

Totally. I bet they could have saved two seconds if they'd have ran to the back of the store first, snapping up the merch as they made their escape through the point of entry, rather than lugging full armloads through from the back.

Re:On the bright side...

[ysth]

Somebody's been reading Jennifer Government [amazon.com], you think?

Maybe Apple will be smart

[mysidia]

And have a list of serial numbers of stolen units...

And blacklist them from being able to install new versions of Apple software.

And make them automatically send phone-home messages to Apple and get bricked the next time a software update is attempted. With a message that says "Please bring to your nearest Apple store for service"

Re:Amazing?

[2phar]

Who says you need bother stealing? Just sell nothing [ebay.com]

Re:No security cables

[Jeremy Erwin]

Most people who buy laptops aren't going to be tethered to a desk. A big honking security cage or even a simple security cable prevents a prospective buyer from getting a feel for how portable the laptop is. Perhaps Apple should follow the lead of jewelry stores, and lock up its merchandise after hours. To be fair, most jewelry stores are designed with this closing procedure in mind, whereas most at most Apple stores, the laptops would have to be stored in back room-- which may not be more secure in any meaningful way [appleinsider.com]

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Someone's head is going to roll......

[iq in binary]

As someone who works for a computer store............

I hope to god someone gets canned for this. There were so many ways to prevent this that cost maybe 1/4 of the value of the merchandise stolen. Laminated glass instead of plate on the doors, Kensington locks, or even just locking the product up in a cage or safe after hours. One of the most important rules of retail is control of the product. Further more, you can see that they don't even have pylons in the front of the store to prevent someone driving their car through the glass. The guard wasn't armed, either.

If these machines were insured, there is no way in hell an agent would approve the claim. Those products were pretty much offered up on a platter. I have worked for several retailers, most of them computer stores, and I have NEVER seen a laptop whether Mac or PC without a Kensington lock on a sales floor.

Re:Unemployment in New Jersey 9.6%

[timeOday]

With all those retired folks having lost much of their retirement in the stock market (wtf were retired or soon to be retired folks STILL in the market is beyond me),

It's hard to remember how people talked in different times, isn't it: [cnn.com]

Smart asset management
March 6, 2000: 6:08 p.m. ET
Expert suggests a combination of stocks and bonds as an ideal strategy

With ten years before you retire, you still have a fairly long time horizon. While there is never a guarantee, the odds are well in your favor that a heavy exposure to equities will pay off handsomely. Think how you would feel if you had missed out on the last ten years in the market.

But as you approach retirement you probably will want to scale back to your preferred retirement asset allocation.

Even if you were going to retire tomorrow, you still might be wise to hold at least 50 to 60 percent of your plan in stocks. With earlier retirement, longer life expectancies, and persistent inflation, the retiree must invest to supply both a reliable income and a hedge against inflation. Stocks alone could be far too volatile. Bonds alone will not generate enough total return. But a combination of stocks and bonds offers the highest probability of meeting both needs successfully.

News??

[invisik]

When was a robbery of a retail store news? Maybe because they got footage of the whole thing it became sensational--so naturally to have to air it then.

Real story should be "Security guard fired when robbers smash large glass door just as he leaves the room." How could the guard not hear that? Sounds like an inside job to me.

-m

Apple: Big Target

[RRcGoose]

On a serious note, Apple products do seem to be a big item for theft. Just this week I experienced being part of an Apple targeted crime. On Wednesday, my father went to the local Apple Store and picked up a Macbook Pro for me (Because Apple won't ship to an overseas military address, but that's another story...). He took it back to the car, made sure it was well hidden in the trunk, and proceeded to the gym to work out. As he came out an hour-and-a-half later, security was surrounding the car and what was left of the back passenger window. By the looks of things, the thieves knew exactly where in the car the laptop was hidden and were only interested in it. Best guess is that they saw him coming out of the mall and followed him from there. His own laptop, two cameras, and briefcase were all untouched. The thieves were in and out in less than ten seconds. This is actually the second MacPro that I've bought, and apparently the second to be stolen. The first was sent through the black hole that is USPS and has yet to be seen. I'd bet a paycheck that someone else is enjoying it right now.

Re:Gone in 31 seconds

[codeonezero]

I haven't really checked out how they set up iPhones on display, but back when I worked at an Apple Store, every Mac on the floor room had a @mac.com that identified it to the store. Considering these are display/demo iPhones I wouldn't be surprised if they were active and on MobileMe. So these criminals although fast probably aren't very clever. So assuming they're activated, Apple could already have a general idea of where the criminals are and relayed the info to local authorities.

They'll probably sell them on eBay

[sjbe]

What you're describing is how the really stupid thieves get caught. The ones who have any kind of brains would fence them.

In all likelihood they'll end up on eBay if the thieves aren't caught soon. The amount of stolen good on eBay is rather astonishing. Sometimes I think eBay should be called eFence.

Re:Amazing?

[mckinnsb]

Which makes me wonder...

We seem to be able to observe that the thieves are intelligent - clearly, theft happens on a daily basis and only truly spectacular examples of it ever make it to the press. We can also be assured of their intelligence through certain elements of their technique - they perhaps, for instance, knew that the Magsafe adapters would make the laptops easy to snag, and that fragments from the front glass door would not harm them (allowing the brick thrower to run full tilt at the door before hurling the brick).

However, the logical conclusion that most Slashdotters seem to be drawing - that the thieves are stealing the laptops to sell them on the black market - contradicts this observation. Which makes me wonder: maybe they aren't planning on selling them, really. They only stole 50k worth of equipment. Maybe they really wanted the *just the laptops* themselves *to use* in a quiet area where Apple will never notice - like, their respective basements.

For the record, I'm not insinuating that these people are terrorists - but what I am insinuating, is perhaps we have seen 'nerd theft'. A low probability, but I think its plausible, and I thought it would be interesting to mention.