Did Apple Impersonate Police To Recover the Lost iPhone 5? 233
zacharye writes "This whole lost iPhone 5 prototype story just got whole lot more interesting. According to SF Weekly, six investigators claiming to be members of the San Francisco police department descended upon one Bernal Heights, San Francisco man's home in search of a lost iPhone 5 prototype that CNET originally reported had been left in a bar. The scary part? The SFPD does not seem to be aware of such an investigation. Instead, it appears as though they may have actually been members of Apple's security team allegedly impersonating police officers."
So far this claim seems to be developing solely through media communications; in order for the SFPD to start an investigation, the man whose house was searched would need to speak with the police directly. Update: 09/03 12:14 GMT by S : A later report indicates police were present, but they stood outside while Apple employees searched the house. No police report was filed because Apple wanted it kept a secret.
No, Apple is WAY more powerful than the SFPD (Score:3, Insightful)
Ha, the San Francisco Police Department WISHES they were as powerful as Apple security. Half the security guys at Apple have licenses to kill, and a pretty good portion of them are ninjas.
Re:"Impersonate" is probably too strong (Score:3, Insightful)
He's claiming that they said they were SFPD. If they said that, or even suggested it, then there's a strong claim for criminal trespass. Privilege to enter a house cannot be gained through deception.
Re:None of it ever happened. Marketing Hype. (Score:5, Insightful)
Would Apple really need such a stunt to get publicity for the next version of iProduct? People will line up around the whole block the moment Apple announces an iPhone 5.
Re:No, Apple is WAY more powerful than the SFPD (Score:4, Insightful)
This is Apple we're talking about. No one will do shit about it.
And I'm being serious in that part.
Re:That's thilly.... (Score:5, Insightful)
yes, many gays still act like males. (likewise for lesbians that actually act like females.) what a concept. :P
Re:If this is true (Score:2, Insightful)
If true, I absolutely agree.
However, it must be understood that many of Apple's competitors spend massive amounts of money to smear Apple (and each other).
As far as what we *know*:
- Some media outlets are claiming there was a stolen iPhone prototype. The details are frankly shaky enough as it is - the only "lead" is the bar owner claims that he was contacted by someone claiming to be Apple security.
- A couple of people are claiming that a group impersonating the police searched a guy's home, looking for an iPhone.
Here's the thing: I've learned to be more than a little leery about press reports about any company, because "the competition" is always ready & willing to smear each other. The details are so sparse as to make it sound more than a little fishy.
All anyone has to do is:
- Pick a bar
- Follow a mark. Preferably somebody the public would be "sympathetic" towards.
- Contact the bar, claim to be from Apple, and claim there was a lost phone.
- Send a crew out to the mark's home, and impersonate the police department.
It's cheap, low risk of ever being caught, and pays off big. Classic mudslinging.
Who would stand to gain? Any of Apple's competitors, anybody who wants to short Apple stock, a news outlet with a grudge against Apple... there are more than a few options.
The more I think of it, more it sounds like a smear campaign. Apple has far too much to lose, and they aren't idiots. Apple is quite conscious of how closely their every move is watched.