Six sledgehammer-wielding crooks broke into two Australian Apple Stores on Tuesday, getting away with nearly $300,000 worth of Apple products. The Western Australian Police Force says a sledgehammer was used to gain entry to both stores.
The group’s first attempt proved to be unsuccessful. After the group smashed the front window to gain entry, they were spooked by the presence of a nearby taxi.
“We know the presence of the taxi caused the group to flee the scene,” Detective Senior Constable Matt Whelan said.
A second break in attempt 40 minutes later proved to be more successful. That time around the group threatened a security guard before gaining entry using the sledgehammer and fleeing with the $300,000 worth of product – mostly iPhones.
The thieves efforts basically were for naught, as Apple quickly remotely bricked the devices, rendering them unusable. Australian police warned Australians from buying any of the stolen iPhones.
“The manufacturer knows what phones have been stolen and security measures will be enabled, meaning these telephones are useless,” Det. Whelan said. “We want the public to not spend their hard-earned money on items that don’t work.
(Image courtesy of TNW)
