Jeffrey Epstein’s Apple Watch gift, the actor tracking his stolen iPhone to China and two iPhone thefts in one day in Texas, all in this week’s Apple Crime Blotter
Latest in Occasional AppleInsider looking at the world of Apple-related crime.
Teens arrested for shoplifting at Cambridge Apple Store
Three teenagers were arrested in late January after stealing 11 iPhones worth £11,000 (about $15,000) from the Grand Arcade Apple Store in Cambridge, UK.
According to The Hunts Postall three were arrested after a white BMW was stopped. One of the three, 17, was charged with shoplifting and breaching a Criminal Order, the other two, both 16, were charged with shoplifting.
All three are scheduled to appear in court on March 4.
Man arrested in Texas for two iPhone thefts
A 24-year-old Texas man was arrested Jan. 17 and charged with armed robbery after allegedly holding up a man selling him an iPhone in Arlington at gunpoint.
For Fox 4 Newspolice say the same man, just hours earlier, stole another man’s phone in Keller, Texas. The latest incident was caught on video.
The seller in the Keller incident uses the online handle “iflipifones” and uploads videos of his transactions, according to the report. That’s why he filmed the day of the robbery.
Jeffrey Epstein gifted lawyer Hermes Apple Watch
Among the latest appearances by Apple and Apple products in the newly released Epstein Files is the very expensive Apple Watch.
The Washington Free Beacon explains that Jeffrey Epstein made a number of expensive gifts to Kathryn Ruemmler, an attorney who served as White House counsel during the Obama administration and now works for Goldman Sachs.
Among the gifts Ruemmler received from Epstein were “a $9,400 Hermes handbag, a Hermes Apple Watch and a spa treatment package at the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington,” the publication said, citing newly released emails.
Ruemmler is not directly accused of wrongdoing, but previously claimed that the convicted sex offender did not compensate her.
In early February, it was reported that Epstein tried to arrange a meeting between Tim Cook and former Windows chief Steven Sinofsky.
Epstein appears to have been an Apple enthusiast, frequently receiving emails about Apple products — such as when he was emailed a news article comparing the 2017 and 2018 MacBook Pro models — and buying such items as gifts. Many emails were sent to and from Epstein via different iPads, and the late financier appeared to have different emails set up on different devices (ie (email protected)).
Numerous iPhones taken from Brooklyn music venue
During a concert at Brooklyn’s Paramount Theater in December, dozens of concertgoers reportedly had their iPhones stolen.
According to The Guardianthe thefts occurred at a concert by the post-hardcore emo group Silverstein.
“It’s well known that phone theft has unfortunately increased over the past two years at popular events and nightlife spots in New York,” said Jacqui Rabkin of another Brooklyn venue, House of Yes.
Woman accused of using stolen credit card to buy MacBook from Costco
Police in Bakersfield, Calif., are searching for a woman they say used a stolen credit card to buy a MacBook from an area Costco in October.
KGET reports that a woman’s credit card was taken at Trader Joe’s.
A photo of the suspect has been released.
iPad stolen in Facebook Marketplace heist
A 17-year-old from Milwaukee was arrested for stealing an iPad during a Facebook Marketplace sales meeting. According to Fox 6 nowthe incident happened on January 18.
The victim agreed to a meeting to sell the iPad, whereupon “a person wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black sweatpants and a blue mask approached her and asked to see the device.” He then declared “Watch out bro, give me everything,” and pulled out a kitchen knife.
The incident was captured on surveillance video, which showed the attacker wearing a Glock T-shirt with the slogan “No Gun No Fun.”
The person who was arrested “was later identified by an officer who recognized him from previous incidents.” His mother told police he sold the iPad and phone at the store that day.
He faces a Class C felony.
A British actor followed a stolen iPhone to China
John Owen-Jones, a British stage actor, had his iPhone stolen on the streets of London in August. He then proceeded to track the stolen device using Find My iPhone all the way to China and posted the whole saga online.
According to IB Timesthe stolen phone traveled thousands of miles to Shenzhen, China.
Unlike most in this situation, he actually flew to China to track his stolen device. According to the newspaper, the actor “managed to trace it to a retail store where it was offered for sale.”
The stolen car was tracked via AirPods, leading to an arrest
A Wyoming man was arrested in late January and charged with stealing a car from an Albertsons parking lot after AirPods left in the car were traced. According to Region 17Police also watched surveillance video of the theft and spotted the woman.
The man who was arrested gave different accounts of who the woman was, eventually admitting that she was his girlfriend. Drugs were found during a search of the man’s residence.
The man was charged with conspiracy to commit felony theft involving property valued at more than $1,000, possession of a controlled substance in crystal form related to methamphetamine, and possession of a controlled substance in plant form tied to THC dispensers.
Man steals iPhone, iPad and MacBook in one month
A man in Monroe, Georgia, suffered terrible bad luck in December, according to the crime sheet at Local Monroe.
On Dec. 7, a man reported his iPhone and MacBook stolen from his vehicle. The man also said he was robbed of a new iPhone on Dec. 22, as well as an iPad.