Apple Crime Log: 100 Stolen iPhones, ‘Zombie’ Scams, and AirTag Busts
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Let’s take another look at the Apple Crime Log, where we report the latest Apple-centric crimes. In this edition: Police recover more than 100 iPhones from a Halloween pickpocketing crime spree, a businessman in Ireland gets charged with “zombie” iPhone fraud, and more.
Trick or Treat: Texas Police Recover 100 iPhones Following Halloween Pickpocketing Spree
The Austin Police Department announced in November that it was trying to find the owners of more than 100 iPhones that had been stolen in the downtown area over Halloween weekend. The department says the devices were recovered following an investigation of “an organized crime ring targeting people through pickpocketing.”
The department has posted photos of the smartphone screens, hoping the owners will recognize them and file police reports.
KVUE reports the phones were recovered by the Downtown Area Rapid Response Team (DARRT).
Police advised those whose phones were stolen to file an online report, including the IMEI and phone serial number so that investigators can match the recovered phones to their owners. Both bits of information can be found on the Apple box that an iPhone came in, or by contacting your cell phone carrier.
APD Lt. Eric Cleveland told KVUE that cell phone thefts from pickpockets are on the rise. He said pickpockets will work in pairs, with one person bumping into a victim to distract them while a partner relieves them of their smartphone or wallet.
The iPhone remains a popular item among bad actors worldwide. Recently, we told you about how London street thugs preferred iPhone owners as targets, due to the popularity of the device. One London crime victim claims a thief grabbed his smartphone, but before making his escape, the thief gave it back to him when he realized it wasn’t an iPhone.
“Don’t want no Samsung,” the thief said.
Businessman Gets Seven Years for “Zombie” iPhone Fraud
A Chinese businessman in Ireland has been sentenced to seven years and nine months for conducting a fraud and money laundering scheme. The man operated a chain of mobile phone shops in the country.
BreakingNews.ie reports that 43-year-old Chengwen Guo, who was described as the “Irish representative of a transnational crime organisation” pled guilty to charges of theft and money laundering in 2021 and 2022.
The scheme involved exchanging fake, or “zombie,” iPhones from China for real ones under warranty, then sending those abroad for resale. The total value of the iPhones was nearly $11.9 million USD.
The judge described Guo as “a very energetic man” who was guilty of “very substantial criminal misbehaviour.”
Pair Caught Stealing an iPhone from a California Apple Store
Two men were arrested in mid-November after attempting to steal an iPhone 17 Pro Max from an Irvine Apple Store after they had been caught earlier trying to defeat a security device at a Target in the area.
On November 21, the Irvine Police Department posted a pun-filled account of the pair’s misadventures.
Their car turned out to be the real iCloud backup: multiple stolen iPhones, all lighting up with messages like “Please return to Apple Brea Mall” and “Local authorities will be alerted.” The devices were not kidding.
One suspect even AirDropped a stolen Apple Watch into a planter while trying to avoid our officers.
Angel Osorio, 27, and Jonatan Alvarado, 28, were arrested for organized retail theft. Both suspects are from New York.
AirTag Helps Cops Find Stolen Construction Equipment
A well-placed AirTag helped police locate a man accused of stealing multiple pieces of construction equipment valued at approximately $7,000 from the site of a Chick-fil-A under construction in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Police say an AirTag attached to one of the pieces of equipment, a Stihl leaf blower, led them to the alleged thief.
Police said the theft victim told them there was an Apple AirTag on the blower and showed them its location. Officers from both the Ocean Springs Police Department and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department then sped to the area, finding the blower with its attached AirTag.
WLOX reports the man, Robert Beach, was arrested and charged with grand larceny, but additional charges may be pending.
