Executive Summary
- Long Island Robbery: Gunmen stole Apple products from delivery workers at gunpoint outside a Manhasset store.
- Illinois Theft: A man was charged with burglary and eluding police after stealing iPhones in Naperville.
- Tracking Arrests: Victims in Ohio and Texas used iPhones and AirPods to track thieves, leading to multiple arrests.
- Stalking Charge: An Alabama man was arrested for electronic stalking after placing an AirTag on a victim’s vehicle.
A series of criminal incidents involving Apple products, ranging from armed robbery and coerced financial transfers to electronic stalking, have been reported across multiple states this week, highlighting both the illicit demand for high-value electronics and the role of tracking technology in police investigations. Law enforcement agencies in New York, Illinois, Ohio, and other jurisdictions are processing various cases involving thefts and the recovery of devices.
In Manhasset, Long Island, an armed robbery occurred outside an Apple Store. According to The New York Post, a group of gunmen dressed in black approached two 65-year-old delivery workers and stole multiple boxes of Apple products at gunpoint. The workers were not injured during the heist, which took place while the store was closed.
Retail theft charges were filed in Naperville, Illinois, where a 24-year-old Arizona man was accused of stealing three iPhone 17 Pro Max models from an Apple Store. Fox 32 reports that the suspect fled in an SUV and led officers on a brief pursuit before being apprehended. He has been charged with burglary, retail theft, and eluding a police officer.
In Chicago, a pattern of coercion involving mobile payment apps has emerged in the River North neighborhood. ABC 7 reports that thieves are tricking victims into handing over their phones under false pretenses, or taking them by force, and then utilizing Apple Pay or Zelle to transfer funds. A similar scheme in Minneapolis previously led to several federal convictions.
Tracking technology played a pivotal role in arrests in Ohio and Texas. In Columbus, Ohio, ABC 6 reports that a man named DeJuan Davidson intentionally left an active iPhone in his vehicle to bait thieves after suffering previous break-ins. Police used the device’s location to arrest an 18-year-old and four juveniles. Similarly, in Texas, the Denton Record-Chronicle states that two women were arrested for car burglaries after a victim tracked his stolen AirPods to their vehicle.
In a case involving the misuse of tracking technology, police in Alabama arrested a suspect for placing an AirTag on a victim’s vehicle. Fox 10 TV reports that surveillance footage from a Walmart, where the device was purchased, led investigators to the suspect, who now faces charges of first-degree electronic stalking.
Investigative Outlook and Public Safety
These incidents illustrate the dual nature of modern mobile technology in the criminal justice landscape. While the high resale value of devices continues to drive violent and retail crime, location services such as "Find My" are increasingly instrumental in aiding law enforcement with the recovery of property and the identification of suspects. However, authorities caution against vigilante interventions, urging victims to provide tracking data directly to police. Furthermore, the Alabama case underscores the persistent privacy risks associated with commercial tracking beacons when used for illicit surveillance. It is important to note that all individuals arrested or charged in these incidents are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
