Aamir Siddiqui / Android Authority
TL;DR
- The Apple Store in Burlingame, CA, has been hit with another robbery.
- This is at least the fifth robbery at this particular store.
- Thieves have a distinct method: run in and grab as much as possible before running out.
This past Tuesday, a brazen theft occurred at the Apple Store located in Burlingame, CA. Five suspects ran into the store, each grabbing as many iPhones, MacBooks, and other Apple merch as they could. Once their hands were full, the suspects made a getaway in a gray BMW SUV. They are still at large. Thankfully, no one at the store was hurt (via KRON4).
Police estimate the thieves got away with about $100,000 worth of Apple products during this theft.
While the brazenness of this theft is notable, what’s even more remarkable is how often this theft occurs at this particular store, which is located just 30 miles away from Apple Park, the company’s headquarters. Over the past 14 years, we’ve seen no fewer than five robberies of this style:
- October 24, 2023 — Five thieves get away with $100,000 in merch
- August 29, 2019 — Seven thieves get away with about $50,000-$70,000 in merch
- September 1, 2019 — Four thieves get away with about $50,000 in merch
- September 2, 2018 — An undisclosed number of thieves got away with an undisclosed number of devices
- October 12, 2009 — Two thieves get away with about $5,400 in merch
There are likely more robberies of this type that have happened at the Apple Store in Burlingame. Several articles I’ve found mention three robberies occurring in the span of 30 days in 2019, but I couldn’t find specific information about all of them. Additionally, robberies in this style have happened at many other Apple Stores in the Bay Area.
Interestingly, Apple tells its employees and security guards not to engage with the thieves when this happens. However, the company hasn’t made any significant changes to its in-store security practices in response to these thefts.
