Thieves Tear Through Apple Store Bathroom Wall to Steal iPhones, iPads

Thieves reportedly(Opens in a new window) stole $500,000 worth of iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches from a Washington Apple Store after cutting through the bathroom wall of a neighboring espresso machine store to gain entry to the back room.

As local news outlet KOMO News reports, the burglars made away with more than 400 different Apple products after breaking into the closed Alderwood Mall store at around 7 p.m. on April 2.

Seattle Coffee Gear Regional Manager Eric Marks was quoted in KOMO News as saying: “Our front door was locked. They pried our front door open. [It was a] 24 by 18 hole cut in the wall into what appears to be the back room of the Apple Store. I’m surprised we were the conduit for them to get to the Apple Store. I had no idea we were so close or adjacent to them.”

According to 9to5Mac(Opens in a new window), the thieves carried their Apple haul through the hole they had cut before walking out of the espresso store.

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Maren McKay, communications manager of Lynnwood Police, which is investigating the break-in, told KOMO News the operation was “well-organized,” and added that “no fingerprints” were left behind. Footage of the break-in has not been shared with media outlets due to the ongoing investigation.

Brookfield Properties, the owners of the Alderwood Mall store, told KOMO News that they had a robust security system and the break-in was an isolated incident. 

Seattle Coffee Gear said they had replaced their locks and the break-in, which left a significant hole in the wall, and cost them $1,800 in damages. 

As 9to5Mac notes, if resold, any potential buyer of the stolen Apple products will not be able to activate their devices because Apple can remotely block the serial numbers and IMEI numbers for stolen iPhones, iPads, and smartwatches.